Ramón Planes says he wanted Abde Ezzalzouli “at any cost”

The former Barça director summed up his interest in Abde Ezzalzouli in a vivid phrase: “Ezzalzouli is a street player… and I wanted him at any cost.” Ramón Planes, who also led Real Betis, spoke about his role in recruiting Ezzalzouli and Pedri. He said Pedri’s transfer was not understood by many people inside the Catalan club at the time.

Planes made the remarks in an interview with the programme “Zona Mixta”, a day before a Liga match between Betis and Barcelone. The fixture was to bring together the last two Spanish clubs where he had worked.

Speaking about Ezzalzouli, Planes said he knew the player well and that Barcelone had backed him. He considers the winger’s profile a reflection of his football outlook and the type of player he has pursued throughout his career. “Abde Ezzalzouli was a street player, aggressive, intense, inconsistent,” he said. Planes recalled spotting him when he was getting little playing time, then deciding to take a chance on him for Barça Atlètic by paying a release clause of 2 million. Ezzalzouli later played for the first team before being loaned to Osasuna, where, Planes said, he did very well.

Planes also stressed the importance of backing a player and pointed to Ezzalzouli’s ambition. He remembers telling him that he was joining a very big club and describes him as a little-known young man who was highly competitive within the squad. “Abde Ezzalzouli wants to be the best in his position,” he said. Planes says he encouraged him to aim for the level of Luis Díaz and sent him video clips of the player.

The former executive set the decision within his broader approach: in 2021, he played a key role in Ezzalzouli’s move to Barcelone, where he was then the club’s technical secretary. He also brought up the recruitment of Pedri and Ronald Araújo to underline the need, in his view, to keep supporting players after signing them. “You can’t back a player and then abandon him,” he said, adding that the board supported him over Pedri’s transfer even though many people did not understand the move.

On Pedri, Planes also recalled the criticism prompted by paying 5 million for a player who had yet to play in the first division, despite La Masia being there. He said he had remained completely convinced by the decision.