Ex-Roma defender Benatia questions lack of minutes for El Aynaoui
Quick summary
Former Roma defender Mehdi Benatia has publicly questioned why midfielder El Aynaoui is not receiving more playing time at the club.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceMehdi Benatia has expressed his surprise at the limited game time Neil El Aynaoui has been afforded at Roma, while revealing he tried to bring the midfielder to Marseille before the Giallorossi stepped in.
The former Roma defender, who is now sporting director at Olympique Marseille, was speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport in a wide-ranging interview that touched on Italian football and his old club.
He reserved warm words for his compatriot.
“He’s very strong because he combines quality and quantity,” Benatia said of El Aynaoui, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb .
“I didn’t understand why he played less at Roma than I would have expected. I had tried to sign him for my Marseille, but he cost too much.”
The Morocco international still featured regularly in the Italian capital this season, racking up 34 appearances and contributing two goals and two assists across the campaign.
epa07680964 Moroccan players Mehdi Benatia (L) and Romain Saiss (R) celebrate after winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group D soccer match between Morocco and the Ivory Coast at Salam Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, 28 June 2019. EPA-EFE/GAVIN BARKER Former Roma man Benatia delivers heartfelt verdict on Italy’s World Cup absence Benatia , who spent several years in Serie A, also turned to a subject close to him: Italy’s failure to reach the 2026 World Cup.
“It’s a huge loss, Italy is in my heart, it gave me everything,” he said.
“Unfortunately the reality is that the best Italian attackers are inferior to the reserves in France’s attacking department. I really hope Italy can turn things around quickly.”
It is a sobering assessment from a man who made his name in Italian football, and one that speaks to the wider soul-searching gripping the Azzurri as they sit out a major tournament once again.
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What happened
Mehdi Benatia, who previously played for Roma, has spoken out about the limited game time being given to midfielder El Aynaoui. His comments suggest concern about the player's development and utilization under the current coaching setup. El Aynaoui appears to be on the fringes of the squad, and Benatia's public criticism adds external pressure on the Roma management to either integrate the player more or explain the decision. The remarks reflect ongoing debate about squad selection and youth development at Roma.
Chance analysis
This is a low-impact editorial commentary rather than breaking news. Benatia's remarks indicate internal friction or at least external scrutiny around Roma's squad management, specifically regarding El Aynaoui's role. For prediction purposes, this does not materially change El Aynaoui's likely availability or Roma's tactical approach in upcoming matches. The story is more relevant as a signal of dressing room sentiment and potential pressure on the coaching staff than as actionable lineup intelligence.
No immediate impact on Roma's lineup or performance; minor pressure on coaching staff regarding El Aynaoui's role.
El Aynaoui remains unlikely to feature prominently in Roma's upcoming matches; public criticism from a former player does not change selection decisions in the short term.