This update focuses on Hakim Ziyech Botafogo move. Just as his signing with Botafogo seemed imminent, Hakim Ziyech asked for more time, leaving his future between Wydad Casablanca and the Brazilian club up in the air.
Hakim Ziyech Botafogo move nearly agreed
The 33-year-old Moroccan winger, still under contract with Wydad until next summer, was on the verge of joining Botafogo. According to Brazilian reports, the financial package and contract length had already been settled.
Hakim Ziyech had even booked his flight to Rio de Janeiro and recorded the official announcement video. Everything pointed to a quick switch to the Brasileirão.
For Moroccan fans at home and abroad, this transfer was expected to open a new chapter, away from the recurring tensions between the player and Wydad president Ibrahim El Aasri.
A call from Zakaria Labyad that changed the script
The story took a turn after a phone conversation with Zakaria Labyad, another Moroccan international currently playing for Corinthians.
At the center of their exchange was a very concrete issue: the quality of pitches and training facilities in Brazil. After a career often disrupted by injuries, Ziyech paid close attention to these concerns.
The winger then shared his doubts with Botafogo’s management and asked for time before confirming his commitment, slowing down a deal that seemed only days away from completion.
Botafogo dressing room tries to convince Ziyech
Faced with the Moroccan’s hesitation, several senior Botafogo players quickly stepped in.
- Danilo Pereira, who played with Ziyech at Ajax Amsterdam
- Brazilian full-back Alex Telles
Both contacted Hakim Ziyech directly to reassure him about current standards in Brazilian football infrastructure. They underlined the improvements made in recent years, especially among top-flight clubs.
Still looking for an experienced attacking profile, Botafogo does not consider negotiations to be over. The Rio-based club hopes to finalise the Hakim Ziyech Botafogo move before Brazil’s transfer window closes on 11 September.
Uncertain future between Casablanca and abroad
For now, Hakim Ziyech remains officially a Wydad Casablanca player. His contract runs until next summer, but ongoing tensions with the club’s hierarchy could speed up his exit.
For Moroccans living abroad who closely follow the Lions of Atlas, this latest twist prolongs the uncertainty. Between the search for stability, injury risks and the final choices of an experienced international, Ziyech’s case reflects the dilemmas many Moroccan stars face late in their European careers.
Whether he stays a few more months in Casablanca or finally heads to Rio, his decision will have a direct impact on his fitness and availability for the national team, something supporters around the world are watching closely.
In the meantime, the Hakim Ziyech Botafogo move remains unresolved, hanging on the player’s final decision in the coming days.
For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.
For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.
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