RB Leipzig may have found a timely answer in Neil El Aynaoui. The Morocco international arrived from AS Roma on deadline day and immediately gave Martin Demichelis control, running power and cleaner possession from midfield.
Neil El Aynaoui gives RB Leipzig a midfield option
Leipzig travel to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday with their midfield stretched. Christoph Baumgartner, Rocco Reitz and Assan Ouedraogo are unavailable, with Ouedraogo set for surgery after suffering his second shoulder injury in six weeks against Hamburg. The 19-year-old will not return before the end of the year.
Quick facts
- El Aynaoui joined Leipzig from AS Roma on loan on deadline day.
- Leipzig hold an option to buy him for a total package of about €25 million.
- He covered 11.91 kilometres in the 5-0 win over Hamburg.
- He completed 93 per cent of his passes in that home debut.
- Ouedraogo needs shoulder surgery and is out for the rest of the year.
Demichelis used El Aynaoui as the holding midfielder against Hamburg, and the decision brought structure to Leipzig’s 5-0 win. The 24-year-old demanded possession, linked play and was the busiest runner on the pitch.
“Neil is a playmaker in the No. 6 role, and he covers an incredible amount of ground,” Demichelis said. Nicolas Seiwald, more naturally a ball-winner than a distributor, began on the bench as Leipzig changed the balance of their central unit.
El Aynaoui had previously operated further forward in the 1-3 defeat at Werder Bremen and the 1-4 loss to Como 1907. He said the Hamburg result mattered as a collective response as much as a strong first home display.
Leipzig could not finance a permanent transfer during the summer window. Marcel Schäfer instead moved quickly when Roma agreed to a loan, securing an option that would cost around €25 million if activated after this season. Roma had paid the same figure to sign him from RC Lens.
The midfielder had concerns over his prospects in Rome after Gian Piero Gasperini brought Marten de Roon from Atalanta. De Roon, 35, had long been a key figure for Gasperini in Bergamo, and El Aynaoui feared reduced minutes after making 35 competitive appearances in his only Roma campaign.
His international record also underlined why Leipzig acted. El Aynaoui started all six of Morocco’s matches before their World Cup quarter-final exit.
Captain David Raum praised the newcomer’s integration, saying Leipzig need players with his approach. El Aynaoui’s father, Younes El Aynaoui, reached No. 14 in the ATP rankings, and the midfielder credits him with teaching the basics of elite preparation: sleep, nutrition, hydration and recovery.
SEO title: Neil El Aynaoui strengthens RB Leipzig midfield before Leverkusen
SEO description: Neil El Aynaoui impressed in RB Leipzig’s 5-0 win over Hamburg as Martin Demichelis prepares for Sunday’s trip to Bayer Leverkusen without key midfielders.
