Amine Harit: Marseille Revival Puts Atlas Lions Return Back on the Table

Moroccan attacking midfielder Amine Harit is going through his most productive spell in years at Marseille. He was named man of the match against Toulouse on Sunday, and his form has revived talk of a recall to the Atlas Lions.

The 29-year-old has made 11 appearances this season, nine of them in Ligue 1. He has scored three goals and provided one assist.

Turning point against Troyes

His goal against Troyes on October 11 was his first for Marseille in two years. He had spent the previous season on loan at Başakşehir, partly because of his strained relationship with Roberto De Zerbi. In the three matches since, he has found the net twice more.

After the Toulouse game, Harit put the team ahead of his individual award.

“It’s a team trophy. For me, it matters little. Today, I’m proud. We knew how to hold firm when things were a bit more complicated. We conceded a lot of chances, but I think fighting together and going through difficult moments has brought us closer. Four wins in a row is not to be sniffed at.”

He added that he had “found the joy of playing again”.

New role under Genesio

Bruno Genesio has moved Harit to the right flank. The Moroccan had mostly played behind the striker or on the left wing. The French coach signed no new players in the summer and chose to build around the squad he already had.

“He has confidence, he has desire, he wants to show things. On the pitch, he can make the difference,” Genesio said of the player.

At this pace, Harit could approach his best career season. That was 2019-2020 at Schalke 04, when he scored seven goals and added five assists.

His four years at Marseille have been far from smooth. He has worked under seven different coaches. Injuries, changes in status and a lack of continuity have rarely allowed him to string matches together.

24 caps since 2017

Harit has played for Morocco since October 2017 but has earned only 24 caps, with one goal and four assists. Fourteen of those games were friendlies. He went to the 2018 World Cup and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

He missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. A serious injury to his left knee, a few weeks before the tournament, ruled him out. He needed major surgery, including a ligament graft from a deceased donor, followed by a long rehabilitation.

The Atlas Lions are now dealing with several injuries, which gives Harit’s return to form added weight. The decision on whether to call him up again rests with national coach Mohamed Ouahbi.