Neil El Aynaoui turned 25 on Thursday. He spent it in the knockout rounds of the World Cup with Morocco, which is a pretty solid birthday present by any standard. But the real gift might come after the tournament ends.
According to reports from TEAMtalk, both Manchester United and Liverpool have been watching the AS Roma midfielder closely during Morocco’s run through the 2026 World Cup. And it’s not hard to see why.
What’s got the Premier League’s attention
Morocco has been a tough out in this tournament. They held Brazil to a 1-1 draw, beat Scotland and Haiti, then knocked the Netherlands out on penalties. Next up is Canada in the Round of 16 on Saturday. El Aynaoui has been a big part of that defensive structure — disciplined, athletic, the kind of player who doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet but makes the whole thing work.
He only joined Roma last summer from RC Lens for about €23.5 million plus add-ons. That’s a serious fee, but Roma might be willing to listen if an even bigger number comes in. Gian Piero Gasperini has said publicly that El Aynaoui has real potential but that he’s still learning the manager’s system. That’s coach-speak for “he’s good but not untouchable.”
Injury history and production
It wasn’t a flawless first season in Italy. El Aynaoui missed time with injuries and also had a long absence for the Africa Cup of Nations. He still managed 34 appearances across all competitions with two goals and two assists. Not flashy numbers. But for the role he plays — more of a disruptor than a creator — those numbers don’t really tell the story.
What United and Liverpool are reportedly interested in is the athleticism and the defensive discipline. The Premier League is full of midfielders who can pass. Plug-and-play destroyers who can also handle the ball? That’s a thinner market.
No official offers have been made yet, and Roma hasn’t commented on any speculation. But the club’s stance, according to sources, is that they wouldn’t block a move if a substantial bid came through. Especially if it means turning a profit on a player they’ve only had for a year.
For now, El Aynaoui is focused on Canada. But the agents and the scouts? They’re already looking ahead to August.
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