Scoring and bummed AZ player Barasi wants more minutes: “Apparently not good enough”

“Apparently I’m not good enough yet,” says Yusuf Barasi in front of NH Sport’s camera with considerable disappointment in his voice. The 20-year-old striker is also not in Pascal Jansen’s selection for the AZ – Sparta game for the first time on Saturday evening. “I’m ready, but the trainer makes the choice.”

“Patience”

Barasi made the most minutes this season for Young AZ. Trainer Maarten Martens lined up the attacker from Alkmaar against Almere City for the thirteenth time and therefore knows him well. “It’s not always easy for a boy like that if you don’t play 90 minutes a week. You have to be patient at times like that.”

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Future

Barasi’s contract will run until the summer of 2025, but it is clear that the talented striker wants a bigger role with the current number four in the Netherlands. “I want to play a lot.” Barasi switched from the Alkmaar Kolping Boys to AZ at a young age and then went through the entire youth academy there. He also shows that he prefers to succeed with the Alkmaarders. “I hope so.”

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This season Vangelis Pavlidis is the undisputed number one in the striker at the Alkmaar flagship and Barasi often replaced the Greek striker in the final phase. In all competitions, Barasi came in sixteen times this season and once he was in the starting line-up. He only found the net in the European match against FC Vaduz. Last few matches, Jansen chooses Mexx Meerdink as a stand-in for Pavlidis. The blonde attacker from the Achterhoek will also be in the selection tomorrow and not Barasi.

AZ – Sparta starts on Saturday evening at 8 p.m. Reactions and reports can be viewed on this site afterwards.