Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah’s transfer to Aston Villa impossible: lack of enough matches with Atlas Lions

Moroccan footballer Abderrazak Hamdallah will not join English side Aton Villa as rumored because he does not qualify for English Premier League condition demanding non-European players to have at least played 75 per cent of their national teams’ matches over the past three years.

Hamdallah, Saudi domestic club Al Nasr’s striker, ended in November his career with the Atlas Lions after he was left out of the national squad for the African Cup of Nations played in Egypt.

The 29-year old has got 16 caps with the national team but only entered the pitch 13 times according to Transfer Market, a football website that looks at football players’ values.

The caps are not enough for the Nasr player to join Aston Villa as suggested by British football agent John Harriott who last week announced a deal between the Moroccans and the Birmingham-based first tier outfit.

The Premier League as part of its transfer rules only allows clubs to recruit non-European players who have at least 75 per cent of the national squads’ matches over the previous three years.

Al Nasr also debunked any alleged deal to relinquish its global star. Hamdallah was awarded early this the world’s top scorer in 2019 title for scoring 57 goals in 54 matches. He eclipsed Polish and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.