According to a report by Barca Universal on Monday November 2, 2026, Yassir Zabiri's impressive performances in Spain have attracted attention, with his former coach comparing the young Moroccan striker's statistics to those of Barcelona star Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed an excellent start to the season with Racing Santander, scoring eight goals in 10 La Liga appearances while on loan from French club Rennes.

His form has reportedly caught the attention of Barcelona, who are continuing to explore opportunities to recruit promising young players as part of their long-term squad plans.

According to reports, Zabiri's former coach, Mimoun Mokhtari, is not surprised by the growing interest in the striker and believes his performances in Spain have justified the attention.

Mokhtari previously worked with the youngster at the Mohammed VI Academy and Union Touarga. He welcomed the reports linking Zabiri with a possible move to Barcelona and highlighted the level he has reached this season.

"The level Zabiri is showing in Spain brings him close, in certain aspects and statistically, to players like Kylian Mbappe or Lamine Yamal. The numbers speak for themselves," Mokhtari said.

The comparison is based on certain aspects of his performances and statistics rather than suggesting that Zabiri is already at the same level as the two established stars.

The former coach also praised the striker's work rate and finishing ability, describing him as a forward with qualities that are difficult to find.

"Zabiri is a hardworking player who never spares any effort. He has a talent you don't find in every striker. When he enters the penalty area, he is capable of converting nine chances out of ten," he added.

Mokhtari further explained that the Moroccan possesses good attacking intelligence, particularly when identifying spaces and making runs behind opposing defenders.

"He knows when to attack space, how to move behind defenders and how to ask for the ball in open areas. He understands situations before they develop," the coach explained.

Those qualities could make Zabiri an interesting option for Barcelona, who are reportedly considering ways to strengthen their attacking options with young talents.

The Catalan club's recruitment department, led by Deco and Joao Amaral, has increasingly focused on identifying promising players outside the club's famous La Masia academy.

Barcelona have already brought in several young prospects in recent transfer windows, including Hamza Abdelkarim, Jesse Bisiwu and Patricio Pacifico.

Zabiri could offer something different to Hansi Flick's attacking options because of his ability to operate as a forward, attack spaces and convert chances inside the penalty area.

Raphinha has been productive in front of goal, but he is not a conventional striker, while Gabriel Jesus offers different qualities in attack.

The Moroccan's potential arrival could therefore provide additional competition and depth in the forward line, although any move would depend on Barcelona's assessment of his development and the financial terms involved.

Zabiri has previously expressed his admiration for Barcelona and admitted that playing for the Catalan giants is a dream.

However, he still has to maintain his impressive form throughout the season and prove that he can deliver consistently at a high level.

For now, his eight goals in 10 appearances have placed him firmly on the radar, while his former coach's glowing assessment has added further attention to the growing links with Barcelona.