The ongoing dispute between Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech and Wydad Casablanca has taken a significant turn as the new season approaches. Recently, Ziyech was excluded from the pre-season training camp in Agadir due to his refusal to accept a salary reduction for the final year of his contract. However, on Tuesday, he made a surprising appearance at training, accompanied by a legal representative, which has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation.
According to multiple sources, the presence of a judicial officer was intended to formally document the circumstances surrounding Ziyech's current preparation with the Casablanca club. While the rest of the team has been training in Agadir, Ziyech has remained in Casablanca, adhering to an individual training program provided by Wydad. During the session at the Mohamed Benjelloun complex, he was supervised solely by a physical trainer responsible for his specific regimen.
This involvement of a legal representative occurs amid escalating tensions between Ziyech and the Wydad management in recent weeks. Following his refusal to accept a pay cut, the attacking midfielder was sidelined from the preparatory camp and also missed a friendly match against Renaissance Zemamra at the directive of club president Ibrahim El Asri.
In response to the criticisms surrounding his situation, Ziyech took to Instagram to address the issue publicly, directly accusing the Wydad president of spreading false information. The actions taken on Tuesday now appear to formalize the dispute, as the involvement of a legal representative allows Ziyech to establish an official account of his circumstances, making the prospect of a legal conflict between the two parties increasingly likely.
Having joined Wydad last autumn after leaving Galatasaray as a free agent, Ziyech is bound to the club by a contract that he must honor for its final year. His arrival was facilitated by former Wydad president Hicham Aït Menna, who had prioritized him as one of the club’s key signings. After a promising first season, where he scored nine goals and provided two assists in 16 matches, Ziyech now finds himself in a considerably different predicament. His future with Wydad will largely hinge on the resolution of the financial disagreement with the club's new management.
As reported by fr.hespress.com.
