Sporting Targets Moroccan Prodigy for Left-Back Role

Sporting is reportedly eyeing Moncef Zekri, Mechelen's 17-year-old prodigy, to bolster their left-back position. This information was initially reported by journalist Sacha Tavolieri and has since been confirmed by A BOLA.

While the same source suggests that the Lions have already reached a €3.5 million agreement with the Belgian club, with additional performance-based bonuses, our newspaper's findings do not corroborate this understanding. Furthermore, there's no confirmation that the player's absence from the squad against Standard Liège was due to these negotiations.

Following Ricardo Mangas's move to Italian side Monza (on a loan with an obligatory purchase option set at €1.5 million, plus €300,000 in variables), the Lisbon-based club is actively seeking an alternative to Maxi Araújo for the defensive left flank. It is in this context that the promising left-footed player's name has emerged.

Born in Brussels but representing Morocco internationally, Zekri made his official senior debut for Mechelen in May 2025, coincidentally against Standard Liège. A week later, he earned his first start against Charleroi. His impressive performances have attracted attention from several European giants, including inquiries from clubs like Ajax and Bayer Leverkusen. However, the young talent opted to extend his contract with the Belgian outfit until June 2028. On the international stage, the full-back was a standout player in Morocco's historic triumph at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), where they defeated Mali in the final.