Rabat — Jose Mourinho knows talent when he sees one, and Youssef En-Nesyri did not disappoint after a stellar display against Hatayspor last Sunday. The in-form Moroccan striker scored twice to cement Fenerbahçe at the top of the Turkish league.
Speaking after the game, Mourinho didn’t hold back. “Youssef En-Nesyri is a distinguished player, and his presence in the team made a big difference,” he said. “We worked hard to develop the performance and add new ideas, such as relying on playing with an attacking duo that includes Dzeko and En-Nesyri.”
Youssef En-Nesyri scored in the 16th and the last minutes of the first half. The Moroccan striker has racked up 11 goals so far this season – eight in the Turkish Super Lig and three in the UEFA Europa League.
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The 27-year-old enjoys working with the Portuguese manager. “Mourinho is a great coach,” En-Nesyri said in a recent interview with a Turkish newspaper. “Before I moved to Fenerbahce, he talked to me about the value of the club and encouraged me, which prompted me to give everything I have for it.”
Mourinho has called En-Nesyri a “qualitative addition” to the team. “Having Youssef with us now has made a big difference,” he said. “We couldn’t try this approach at the start of the season, but now we are seeing the benefits.”
In recent weeks, En-Nesyri has caught the attention of Stefano Pioli at Saudi club Al-Nasr. The Italian coach wants to bolster his team’s attack with a proven target man. Al-Nasr has already tabled a $34 million offer. Fenerbahce’s management faces pressure to resist the lure of such a deal.
Youssef En-Nesyri joined Fenerbahçe from Sevilla FC for a reported $ 19.5 million fee. However, the Turkish club has set his transfer fee at $40 million, and is holding out for him to be able to maximize their return on the Atlas Lion.
