Abdelaziz Barrada has died aged 35 (Picture: Getty)
Ex-Marseille and Morocco footballer Abdelaziz Barrada has died at the age of 35.
Though the cause of death is yet to be confirmed, widespread reports in Barrada’s native Morocco claim he suffered a heart attack.
After starting his professional career with French outfit Senart-Moissy, Barrada moved to Getafe in 2010 and went on to make 64 league appearances in Spain.
The midfielder then spent two years with Marseille, scoring twice in 32 games in Ligue 1, before representing Al Nasr, Antalyaspor Gimnastic, Al Shahani and Lusitanos Saint-Maur.
The Moroccan Football Federation paid tribute to Barrada on social media, describing their former player’s passing as ‘a great loss’.
‘The Royal Moroccan Football Federation extends its sincere condolences to the family of the former Moroccan international, the late Abdelaziz Barrada, and through them to all his family and relatives, as well as the national football family,’ the statement read.
Marseille, meanwhile, passed on their condolences to Barrada’s loved ones in a heartfelt message on X, formerly known as Twitter.
‘Rest in peace, Abdelaziz,’ the message read.
‘Olympique de Marseille is saddened to learn of the passing of its former player and Moroccan international, Abdelaziz Barrada.
‘Having arrived in the summer of 2014, the attacking midfielder wore OM’s colors for two seasons.
‘Olympique de Marseille extends its sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.’
Barrada, who was capped 26 times by the Morocco national team, called time on his playing career in 2021 after a brief spell with Parisian outfit Lusitanos Saint-Maur.
He was part of Morocco’s Under-23 squad at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and found the net in the side’s 2-2 draw with Honduras.
The previous year, Barrada played a key role as Morocco finished runners-up at the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations, ending as the tournament’s top scorer with three goals.
More to follow.