French midfielder Naoufel Zubiri’s high-profile move to Stade Rennais is already being described as a failure, according to a prominent French football publication. The 20-year-old Algerian youth international, once hailed as a future star for Les Bleuets, has struggled immensely since his €10 million transfer from Le Havre in the summer of 2023.
The report details a swift and dramatic decline for the player who was the top scorer at the 2022 U-19 European Championship. Zubiri has managed just one single assist in 18 total appearances for Rennes, failing to find the net himself. His playing time has dwindled to a mere 49 minutes across all competitions in 2024, and he was notably left out of the squad for the Coupe de France final on May 25, 2024, which Rennes lost 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain.
This stark contrast to his prodigious early promise has led the French site to label the operation a costly misstep for the Breton club. The analysis points to a significant financial loss on the horizon, with Zubiri’s market value having plummeted since the acquisition. The article suggests Rennes will be forced to sell the player at a substantial loss, merely to remove him from the wage bill.
The situation represents a dramatic fall from grace for Zubiri. Just two years ago, in 2022, he was the standout talent of his generation, finishing as the UEFA U-19 EURO top scorer with four goals and being named in the Team of the Tournament. His subsequent €10 million move to Rennes was seen as the next logical step, but it has instead stalled his career entirely.
With the player reportedly seeking a departure this summer, Rennes faces the unenviable task of recouping any fraction of their initial investment. What was envisioned as a strategic signing for the future has rapidly become what the French media calls a “failed transfer.”
