As the season draws to a close, Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech now knows his future.
On loan at Galatasaray, Hakim Ziyech is set to stay permanently in Turkey. Coach Okan Buruk sealed his fate Sunday after the winger’s brace, including a superb curled effort into the top corner, secured a resounding 6-1 victory against Sivasspor in the 35th round of the Süper Lig.
“Hakim has faced difficulties with injuries in the past, but he is now in very good shape. He plays most of the games, although we sometimes substitute him early as a precaution to minimize the risk of injuries and also to avoid getting a yellow card. Hakim is our player and will remain with us next season. He is an important and valuable asset for us, and we want him to stay,” said the Turkish coach in the post-match press conference.
Ziyech in top form
Arriving from Chelsea, where he languished on the sidelines with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Atlas Lions winger (60 caps, 22 goals) suffered from a truncated pre-season. Struggling for rhythm, he then endured a foot injury in the first half of the season, followed by an ankle problem in February-March. Although he wasn’t deprived of some flashes of brilliance, such as his standout performance against Manchester United in the Champions League (3-3) in late November, the former Ajax player truly regained his form only since early March. Prior to his seventh and eighth goals on Sunday, he had contributed to five matches with a goal or an assist (2 goals, 2 assists).
It is worth noting that he is heading towards the Turkish league title, a fitting reward for the player who experienced difficulties at Chelsea the previous season.
