Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich reportedly have high hopes of beating Barcelona to the signature of Ajax defender Noussair Mazraoui.
According to reputed German journalist Tobi Altschaffl, Bayern Munich are hopeful of securing the services of Noussair Mazraoui on a Bosman move in the summer transfer window. The Ajax right-back is also the subject of interest from Barcelona over a possible free transfer ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Noussair Mazraoui has spent his entire professional career with Ajax, having been with the club since 2006. The Moroccan international has been in the form of his life since the 2020/21 season, with Sergino Dest’s departure enabling him to become the undisputed first-choice right-back.
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a solid 2021/22 season thus far, chipping in with five goals and four assists in 31 outings across all competitions. But despite Mazraoui’s top-notch performances, he will leave Ajax as a free agent in the summer transfer window, with his situation capturing the attention of European bigwigs like Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Mazraoui has been most heavily linked with Barcelona, who will need to enter the market for a right-back in the summer transfer window. While Xavi Hernandez currently has three natural options in Dani Alves, Sergino Dest, and Sergi Roberto. But Roberto looks set to leave Barcelona as a free agent, while Dest faces an uncertain future at Camp Nou.
With Alves in the twilight of his career, Barcelona will have to sign a right-back to be the long-term successor for the Brazilian international. Mazraoui has thus emerged as a viable target for Barcelona, who will need to stave off stiff competition from Bayern Munich in the race to sign Mazraoui.
According to Tobi Altschaffl, the Bundesliga champions are optimistic about their chances of landing Mazraoui. And the 24-year-old has already courted an offer from Bayern Munich, who will look to replace the underperforming Bouna Sarr while adding competition for Benjamin Pavard by landing the Moroccan international.
But recent reports have claimed that Mazraoui is keen on joining Barcelona in the summer transfer window, which puts Bayern Munich in a difficult position in his pursuit. So while the Bavarian giants have high hopes of signing the Ajax defender, he is likelier to join Barcelona instead.