This meeting is intended to quell recent speculation regarding Ziyech’s future, which intensified following the departure of former president Hicham Aït Menna. Several reports had linked the player’s situation to the change in the club’s leadership.
According to African football outlet Africafoot, El Asri is determined to retain Ziyech at Wydad, viewing him as a key pillar of the club’s sporting project. The new president is expected to personally reaffirm his desire for the Moroccan international to continue his journey with the " Red Castle. "
The report added that the previous management faced widespread criticism over Wydad’s challenging financial situation, marked by mounting debts and a failure to secure any silverware. The club is now entering its fourth consecutive season without a title, a significant decline compared to the era of former president Saïd Naciri.
The outlet also explained that Ziyech joined Wydad as a free agent, meaning the club paid no transfer fee. Consequently, his name was not included among the club’s transfer dealings in its financial report. The same applies to Nordin Amrabat, who also joined on a free transfer.
Regarding Ziyech’s financial situation, the report stated that Wydad owes the player €200,000 in unpaid wages only, with no other financial obligations related to his arrival at the club.
The 33-year-old has been one of Morocco’s standout footballers over the past decade. He began his career in the Netherlands with Heerenveen before enjoying successful spells at Twente and Ajax, where he helped the club reach the UEFA Champions League semifinals in 2019. He later joined Chelsea, winning the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup, before playing for Galatasaray and Al Duhail prior to signing for Wydad.
Since joining the Casablanca club, Ziyech has scored nine goals and provided two assists in 16 appearances across all competitions during the 2025-26 season.
At international level, Ziyech has earned 64 caps for Morocco, scoring 25 goals. He represented the Atlas Lions at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups and played a leading role in Morocco’s historic run to the semifinals in Qatar, making them the first Arab and African nation to reach that stage of the tournament.
