Moroccan fullback Amloud nearing exit door at Persepolis
Persepolis fans may have already seen the last of Ayoub El Amloud in the Tehran Reds colors as the Moroccan fullback will reportedly leave the Persian Gulf Pro League club once his one-year contract expires in July.
Amloud, whose campaign has been interrupted by several injury spells, was last in action during a 3-2 loss at Shams Azar in the domestic league on March 30, leaving the pitch in the 50th minute with a groin problem.
The Moroccan left for his home country after the game and is not expected to return to Iran ahead of what promises to be a summer of shakeup under Turkish head coach Ismail Kartal.
Having joined from Wydad AC last summer, Amloud got off to flying start to his career in the Iranian league under former Spanish boss Juan Carlos Garrido, bagging a late equalizer in 1-1 draw at Tractor in only his second game for the Capital Reds.
However, his campaign has been interrupted by several injury spells throughout the season, with his contribution limited to one goal and an assist in 24 games across all competitions.
Center-back Farshad Faraji has done a decent job in playing out of position to fill in for the Moroccan right-back, bagging three goals and double assists, while Iranian U20 international Yaqoub Barajeh impressed during Friday’s hard-fought 1-0 victory at Nassaji Mazandaran.
Having dominated the Iranian club football with eight top-flight trophies in nine seasons, Persepolis is third in the league table with 51 points with four games remaining – trailing leader Tractor, which has a game in hand, by four points, and two adrift of second-placed Sepahan.
Kartal’s men will be looking to boost their slim hopes of third successive title when taking on Sepahan at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Friday.