Roma coach confirms “Aynaoui’s decline”

Roma's Italian football coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, spoke about the decline in the level of Moroccan international Nael El Aynaoui during the recent period, attributing this to the repercussions of his participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals, a competition that often affects the performance of players after they return to their clubs.

The Italian coach explained, in media statements, that this phenomenon is not new in football, pointing out that a large number of players who participate in the “Cannes” find it difficult to regain their level immediately after the end of the tournament, especially since it is held in a sensitive period of the football season, specifically during the months of December and January.

Gasperini added that Al-Aynaoui is not the same player who left the team before joining the national team to participate in the continental competition, stressing on the other hand that the player has good potential and is very serious about working, which may help him gradually regain his level during the coming period.

The Roma coach also warned against rushing to sign players participating in the African Cup, explaining that European clubs must take this factor into consideration when planning the transfer market, given the possibility of players being absent for a period and then suffering from physical or mental difficulties after returning from the tournament.

It is worth noting that Al-Aynaoui played 26 matches this season with Roma, for a total of 1,295 minutes, during which he scored one goal and provided one assist.