Abde Ezzalzouli
Introduction
Abdessamad "Abde" Ezzalzouli (Arabic: عبد الصمد الزلزولي; born 17 December 2001), sometimes known as Ez Abde, is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a winger for La Liga club Real Betis and the Morocco national team. He began his professional career playing for Hércules.
Ezzalzouli made his international debut in 2022, after previously being capped by the nation's youth teams at under-20 level. He was chosen in Morocco's squads for the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Early life
Born in Morocco, Ezzalzouli moved to Spain with his family at the age of seven to live and started his football youth career in the neighborhood of Carrús, in the city of Elche.
Club career
Hércules
Ezzalzouli was part of the youth academies for Peña Ilicitana Raval CF, CD Pablo Iglesias, Kelme CF, Promesas Elche CF, and CD Cultural Carrús. He trialled at Elche CF, the main club in his hometown, but was not offered a place in their academy.
Ezzalzouli continued to play for neighbourhood clubs in Elche until Hércules CF coach Antonio Moreno Domínguez offered him a contract, and Ezzalzouli subsequently joined the main club in the neighbouring city of Alicante. He moved to Hércules CF' youth sides in 2016, and began his senior career with the B-team in 2019.
Barcelona
Ezzalzouli transferred to Barcelona B on 31 August 2021. He made his professional debut with Barcelona in a 1–1 La Liga draw with Alavés on 30 October 2021, coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute. Ezzalzouli thus became the first Moroccan-born player to feature for Barça's first team. He scored his first goal for Barcelona against Osasuna in a 2–2 draw.
Loan to Osasuna
“Abde’s game is spectacular".
—Xavi.
In September 2022, he renewed his contract with Barcelona until 2026 and was ensuingly loaned to Osasuna. On 4 September, he made his first appearance for Osasuna against Rayo Vallecano after being subbed in the 81st minute, he managed to assist the winning goal in that game, which ended in a 2–1 victory.
On 26 January 2023, Ezzalzouli scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 victory against Sevilla FC in the 2022–23 Copa del Rey Quarter-final. He scored his first league goal exactly one month later, in a 3–2 win against the same opponent.
Betis
On 1 September 2023, Ezzalzouli signed a five-year contract with fellow La Liga club Betis, with the transfer being reportedly worth €7.5 million, plus a buy-back option in favor of Barcelona. On 9 September 2023, Ezzalzouli made his debut in a 5–0 loss against Barcelona. On 1 October 2023, Ezzalzouli scored his first goal for the team in a 3–0 victory against Valencia. On 1 November 2023, Ezzalzouli was nominated for the 2023 African Young Player of the Year by CAF.
International career
Ezzalzouli represented the Morocco under-20 team at the 2020 Arab Cup U-20, scoring two goals in five games. On 20 December 2021, Abdessamad rejected Vahid Halilhodžić invitation to represent Morocco national team in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to focus on his club.
On 17 March 2022, Ezzalzouli was listed in the 26-man squad to face DR Congo in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF third round.
In September 2022, Ezzalzouli was called up to join the Morocco national team. He played his first match in a friendly against Chile at the RCDE Stadium in Cornellà de Llobregat, which ended in a 2–0 victory.
On 10 November 2022, he was named in Morocco's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
In June 2023, he was included in the squad for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Morocco itself; named as the team captain, he went on to score three goals and three assists in four matches, as the Atlas Lions won their first title and qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 12 November 2023
| Club | Season | League | Copa del Rey | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hércules B | 2019–20 | Tercera División | 17 | 5 | — | — | — | 17 | 5 | |||
| 2020–21 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 25 | 5 | — | — | — | 25 | 5 | |||||
| Hércules | 2019–20 | Segunda División B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 2 | ||||
| Barcelona B | 2021–22 | Primera División RFEF | 21 | 3 | — | — | — | 21 | 3 | |||
| Barcelona | 2021–22 | La Liga | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| 2023–24 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 | ||
| Osasuna (loan) | 2022–23 | La Liga | 28 | 4 | 6 | 2 | — | — | 34 | 6 | ||
| Betis | 2023–24 | La Liga | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | 14 | 4 | |
| Career total | 116 | 16 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 130 | 21 | ||
International
- As of 27 November 2023
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco U20 | 2020 | 5 | 2 |
| Morocco U23 | 2023 | 4 | 3 |
| Morocco | 2022 | 10 | 0 |
| Total | 19 | 5 | |
Honours
Osasuna
- Copa del Rey runner-up: 2022–23
Morocco U23
- U-23 Africa Cup of Nations: 2023
Individual
- U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Golden Boot: 2023
- U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Team of The Tournament: 2023
Orders
- Order of the Throne: 2022