In an exciting turn of events, Schalke's Soufiane El-Faouzi is now allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. Following a remarkable season with the Royal Blues, the talented midfielder has been nominated for Morocco's preliminary squad ahead of the tournament.
At just 23 years old, El-Faouzi stands on the brink of the most significant milestone in his career, only one year after his transfer to FC Schalke 04. The Moroccan national coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, has included him in the provisional roster for the World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This nomination gives the Schalke player a legitimate chance to compete on the world stage.
Before the World Cup, El-Faouzi will participate in a training camp from May 22 to May 26 in Salé, Morocco. Following this camp, the federation will make the crucial decisions regarding which 26 players will ultimately attend the tournament. Thus, it remains uncertain whether El-Faouzi will make the final cut, especially given the stiff competition and the potential inclusion of other stars, such as PSG defender Achraf Hakimi, who is currently absent from the extended squad.
For El-Faouzi, this nomination would mark yet another highlight in an already remarkable season. He made the switch from Alemannia Aachen to Gelsenkirchen for around 200,000 euros last summer. Since joining Schalke, the central midfielder has quickly established himself as a regular starter, featuring in all 34 matches of the 2. Bundesliga, contributing two goals and providing five assists.
What stands out even more is that El-Faouzi was the most hard-working player in the entire 2. Bundesliga, having covered an impressive 427 kilometers throughout the season. His outstanding performances have attracted the attention of other clubs, with recent reports suggesting a potential multi-million offer from England. However, according to information from 'Sky', FC Schalke 04 has not received any concrete offers as of now. Rather than considering a sale, the Royal Blues are looking to extend El-Faouzi's contract in the long term.
Nevertheless, it is evident that if this rising star manages to take to the field during the World Cup, his market value could see a significant increase come summer. Given the club's challenging financial situation, Schalke may be open to discussions if an exceptionally high offer arises.
As reported by fussballdaten.de.
