• Azzedine Ounahi scored his first goal with Olympique de Marseille after only 20 minutes played in his new colors, against FC Nantes (0-2).

  • During his presentation conference this Thursday at the Vélodrome stadium, the midfielder told how Pablo Longoria and Amine Harit convinced him to join OM.

  • The new number 8 of Marseille showed as much relaxation in front of the press as during his first steps against Nantes.

“I started off calm, and then I saw that there was space between the two central defenders.

I checked, hook, hook and aim.

It was easy ".

Easy, like the adaptation of Azzedine Ounahi, the new recruit of Olympique de Marseille, presented this Thursday by president Pablo Longoria, alongside striker Vitinha, the day after his first goal in his new colors.

It only took him about twenty minutes on the lawn of the Beaujoire stadium on Wednesday to seal his team's victory against FC Nantes (0-2), and receive a kiss from his new coach Igor Tudor .

“It was like my debut in Angers.

I came from National and for my first match, after two minutes, I hit the post.

And right after I score.

I see a player who is happy to be here, happy to wear the OM jersey.

Without stress, who takes advantage of his first steps and takes pleasure in helping the group”, rejoiced the midfielder who also likes to talk about himself in the third person.

“I have demonstrated my ability to play at the highest level”

An incredible relaxation for the revelation of the last World Cup after the magnificent course of Morocco, punctuated by a third place, which will only be 23 years old next April.

We all remember the astonishment of Spain coach Luis Enrique after the meeting between the two nations: "I was pleasantly surprised by number 8. I don't remember his name, I am sorry.

My God, where is this guy from?

He plays really well!

He surprised me.

»

But does not seem to be able to destabilize the player, to see his smile which has not left him throughout his presentation conference.

“I went from Angers to the World Cup, and I demonstrated my ability to play at the highest level.

It's the same to go from Angers to the World Cup, and from the World Cup to Marseille.

I have to show that I deserve my place, it's up to me to adapt.

We play football to have fun.

If you're stressed, you stop, I came here because there's atmosphere, a magnificent audience, and playing in front of 60,000 people, that's what we like.

If I play and watch football, it's for moments like that, ”he evacuated as to the possible weight of wearing the OM jersey, after that of Angers.



It was also during this World Cup that Azzedine Ouanhi made the choice of Olympique de Marseille.

“I had a discussion with Pablo Longoria during the competition, a discussion of more than 30 minutes during which he spoke to me about the club, that he wanted me to come to OM.

I had very advanced discussions with clubs in England and Italy, but I chose OM”, confided the new number 8 of the club.

The other Moroccan from OM, Amine Harit finished the job when he came to see his teammates for the last matches: “He arrived in Doha, I thought he was there to support me.

He called me straight to his room and started talking to me about OM, the leaders, the project, the group, the city, the atmosphere.

He's a brother to me, with a good heart so I can't wait to play next to him."

It then remained for Pablo Longoria to convince Angers to let go of their player, whose value was estimated at more than 20 million euros during the World Cup, which was facilitated by his desire to join OM more than any other. club.

“You feel in a strong position to negotiate.

Angers needed to have a better record on its operations, and we were determined with Javier Ribalta to wait until the end of the transfer window to obtain Azzedine, ”explained the president of OM.

As a result, he brought him to Marseille for 8 million euros, plus 2 bonuses.

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