Moroccan star Youssef En-Nesyri a wave of international praise after opening his scoring account with his new club, Al-Ittihad, in the Saudi Professional League. His first goal came against Al-Fayha, securing a valuable 2-0 victory for his team in the 22nd round of matches. Critics and observers considered this a strong and promising start for a striker on whom much is expected to restore the formidable attack of "Al-Ittihad."
The goal came in the 35th minute of the first half, when En-Nesyri rose magnificently to meet a perfectly placed cross from his Malian teammate, Mahamadou Doumbia, heading it powerfully into the net, marking his first goal for Al-Ittihad in the league. This goal wasn't just a scoring start; it served as a reassuring message to Al-Ittihad fans, who were eager to see the successor to French striker Karim Benzema establish himself firmly in the forward line.
Context of the deal and its importance to Al-Ittihad Club
Youssef En-Nesyri's move to Al-Ittihad during the winter transfer window was no ordinary deal; it was one of the most prominent transfers of the period. He joined from Turkish side Fenerbahçe in a swap deal that saw French star N'Golo Kanté move to the Turkish club. This move represented a strategic shift for Al-Ittihad's management, who sought to bolster their attack with a classic "box striker" possessing extensive European experience and a superior ability to finish attacks, particularly with aerial balls, a skill at which En-Nesyri is renowned.
Expected local and regional impact
Domestically, En-Nesyri's early brilliance is seen as crucial to Al-Ittihad's efforts to salvage their season. With their chances of retaining the Roshan League title fading, the focus has shifted to competing strongly in the King's Cup and the AFC Champions League. Having a striker of En-Nesyri's caliber provides the team with a potent attacking option capable of making a difference in big matches. Regionally, En-Nesyri's goals will be vital to the team's Asian campaign, where competing with the continent's elite clubs demands a powerful attacking force.
Wide global impact
En-Nesyri's goal did not go unnoticed globally, with numerous international newspapers and sports websites highlighting his successful debut. The Moroccan newspaper Hespress praised the goal, emphasizing his perfect positioning and ability to capitalize on opportunities. Meanwhile, the Turkish website AsistAnaliz noted that En-Nesyri is continuing the impressive form he displayed in Turkey, having contributed to three goals in three matches for Al-Ittihad (scoring two and assisting one). The network CatenaccioTR described his debut as "amazing," while the Italian network Spotitalia observed that this victory, secured by goals from En-Nesyri and Hassan Kadash, brought a smile back to coach Sergio Conceição's face after the heavy defeat against Al-Nassr.
