Morocco coach Walid Regragui is not shying away from the fact that Nayef Aguerd, a man reborn at Marseille, struggled during his ill-fated Premier League stint with West Ham United.
And in truth, with every year which goes by, the quite remarkable job Regragui did taking the Atlas Lions to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup – the first African team ever to reach the last-four – feels even more impressive.
Because, with the exception of Stuttgart’s former Leicester City playmaker Bilel El Khannouss, Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui and Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain, much of that coupon-busting Morocco squad have faded into the background since those heady days in the Middle East.
Nayef Aguerd looked destined to go the same way as Sofyan Amrabat, Walid Cheddira, Selim Amallah and Hakim Ziyech until joining Marseille on the final day of the summer transfer window.
West Ham United, meanwhile, were just happy they could recoup much of that £30 million investment. Marseille spent £17.5 million taking Aguerd, once of Rennes and Dijon, back to France.
Though after just one month in the cosier surroundings of Ligue 1, Regragui has seen one of his Qatar heroes rediscover at least a semblance of his 2022 form.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui on Nayef Aguerd’s West Ham United struggles
While Emerson Palmieri stood out against Real Madrid in the Champions League, Nayef Aguerd fired Marseille past Paris Saint-Germain. Their first ‘Classique’ victory at the Stade Velodrome in 14 years.
Regragui feels that there are a number of factors explaining Aguerd’s sudden return to prominence. Chief among then, the ankle injury which delayed his start and set the tone of things to come.
“There were some physical setbacks [at West Ham], of course,” Regragui tells L’Equipe. “Like the ankle fracture which required surgery, which almost caused him to miss Qatar. He didn’t necessarily feel good in London, at West Ham.
“The harshness of the Premier League can take its toll. A league where, as soon as you’re injured or not as good, you’re put in the clutches of big players who are worth the same price as you.”
Aguerd missed 32 games for club and country in total between arriving from Rennes in 2024 and departing for a loan spell at Real Sociedad in 2024.
And while former captain Kurt Zouma surprisingly labelled Aguerd his favourite-ever teammate – the two centre-backs conceded 60 goals in 33 games as a pairing – Regragui believes that the possession-based stylings of Marseille coach Roberto de Zerbi will suit him a lot better than at a West Ham team who have often struggled to dictate proceedings.
“Nayef needs to play in a team that plays with the ball, with possession that highlights his qualities and his taste for passing,” adds the 2023 African Coach of the Year.
“When we saw him again [at Real Sociedad], I felt he was coming back to life, and that helped us too. At his age, he needed to be given responsibilities, to be told you’re going to be number one, to keep going, and above all not to be moved to second, third, or fourth centre-back as soon as you’re a little less good.
“He found a coach [Imanol Alguacil] who gave him confidence. Spanish football that suits him, he played some very good matches.”
Aguerd makes ‘incredible’ Ligue 1 retun with PSG winner the highlight
By his own admission, Aguerd has made a ‘frankly incredible’ start to life at Marseille. In addition to his PSG heroics, the 29-year-old has also emerged victorious in each of the three Ligue 1 matches he has played so far.
“[Marseille was the] perfect move. I’m not necessarily objective. I’ve known him since he was 16, but I think we underestimated him; a left-footed, technical, fast centre-back,” Regragui concludes after watching Aguerd reunite with his former Morocco teammate – and now L’OM sporting director – Medhi Benatia.
“When you lose a year or two in England, they label you. Good for Marseille, it helped to have Medhi at the club. Like the Moroccan public, he knows the immense qualities of Nayef.”
