Rotterdam – Oussama Targhalline’s journey to becoming a key figure in Feyenoord’s midfield is a story of perseverance, adaptation and a pivotal mentorship that unlocked his potential. The 23-year-old Moroccan international, currently with the national team, recently reflected on his path in Feyenoord Magazine, revealing a deep connection to his roots and a newfound appreciation for the defensive aspects of the game.
Targhalline’s story begins in the vibrant Belyout district of Casablanca, Morocco, nestled near the iconic Hassan II Mosque. His childhood was defined by the simple joys of street football and days spent on the beach. “My childhood consisted of playing football in the street and going to the beach. What more could a child want?” he recalled. “Belyout is a well-known neighborhood in Casablanca. We lived close to the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco. The time I spent there as a child was the happiest of my life. In Belyout, everyone lives on the street. The houses are only there to sleep in. Families share everything with each other. We didn’t have much, but my parents made sure my two sisters and I didn’t lack anything.”
Even as his career has taken him across Europe, Targhalline maintains a strong bond with his hometown. “Nowadays, when I have a few days off, I fly to Casablanca to observe my family and friends. Then I too visit Belyout. I think it’s important to represent my neighborhood. Hopefully, I can inspire the young people a little bit. By working hard and not giving up, you can achieve a lot in life.”
His path to professional football wasn’t straightforward. His father had never played the game, and his mother initially prioritized academics. “My father had never kicked a ball. My mother just wanted me to get a diploma,” Targhalline explained. “But Papa quickly realized how much football meant to me. When we got a tour of the Mohammed VI Academy, a training center for young footballers, Mama saw that they also invested in education. That was the deciding factor. I eventually got my high school diploma, especially for her.”
The Mohammed VI Academy in Salé proved to be a crucial stepping stone. “Most Moroccan top clubs only recently started investing in youth development. The Mohammed VI Academy is the best chance in Morocco to make it as a footballer. Half of our national team is trained there,” he said. Adjusting to life away from his family at age ten was difficult. “The first year, I cried in bed every night. As soon as I had a chance, I took the train home.”
Targhalline arrived at the academy as a typical “street footballer,” focused on flair and dribbling. That quickly changed. “I came to the academy as a real street footballer. Football was all about passing my friends, preferably with a ‘panna.’ That changed quickly. For two years, I did nothing but perform on my basic technique: passes and control. The ball rolls faster than People can run. That was drilled into us daily at the academy. But the street also shaped me. As a child, I had to dribble not only past my friends but also between passing cars. I got a feel for the ball by kicking it barefoot on the beach. You don’t learn that at a football school…”
At 18, he made the leap to Europe, initially attracting interest from Real Betis. However, the allure of Olympique Marseille proved too strong. “I was ready to move to southern Spain, but then came Olympique Marseille… In Morocco, that’s one of the most popular clubs in the world. When they call, you move. There are childhood photos of me in an Olympique shirt. The team I played with on PlayStation wanted me… That was unreal.”
While opportunities in the first team were limited at Marseille (three official appearances in the 2021-2022 season), Targhalline valued the experience of training alongside established players like Dimitri Payet and Boubacar Kamara. He also credits former manager Jorge Sampaoli, previously the coach of Chile and Argentina, with fundamentally changing his understanding of the game. “I may not have played much, but I learned a lot. Training with Dimitri Payet and Boubacar Kamara helped me enormously as a young talent. I trained under Jorge Sampaoli, who is very eccentric, but I owe him fifty percent of everything I’ve learned as a footballer. Before I met Sampaoli, I did many things well, but without realizing why. Thanks to him, I started to understand football. Everyone at Marseille was afraid of him. He shouts and rages, but believe me: he is a warm man off the field.”
A loan spell at Turkish side Alanyaspor proved transformative, particularly due to the influence of then-manager Francesco Farioli. “After a while, I wanted to show on the field what I had learned. I was loaned to Alanyaspor in the summer of 2022. Looking back, it wasn’t an ideal choice as it wasn’t a pleasant club, but I did turn into mentally stronger there. I learned something latest from the then-trainer, Francesco Farioli. One day, I saw myself on the board the day before the next match as the only defensive midfielder. Until then, I had actually played a line higher, as an eight. I hesitated for a moment because I was going to play as a six, and different things would be asked of me in that role. But I did well in that match and immediately fell in love with my new position.”
Targhalline is clear about his role on the pitch now. “Completely sacrificing myself for the team and correcting the mistakes of my teammates, that’s what I enjoy. I recognize statistics are important, but that’s not the essence of the game for me. Don’t ask me how to celebrate a goal. I think I’d feel uncomfortable and just go back onto the field. Actually, I prefer to give an assist, like the one to Ayase Ueda in October against FC Utrecht. As a midfielder, I especially looked up to Andrés Iniesta because of his dribbling. Then I watched a lot of Toni Kroos, no one kicked a better crossball than him. Nowadays, I particularly admire Vitinha of Paris Saint-Germain and Pedri at Barcelona. When I watch football on TV, I keep an eye on them.”
Targhalline’s evolution from a flair player to a disciplined defensive midfielder highlights the impact of strong coaching and a willingness to adapt. His story is a testament to the power of embracing new challenges and finding fulfillment in serving the team. He continues to represent Morocco on the international stage, having earned 11 caps as of January 2026, and was part of the Moroccan squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 and the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in 2023.
Feyenoord fans will be eager to see Targhalline back in action following his international duties, with the team’s next Eredivisie fixture scheduled for April 12th against Heerenveen. The match is set to kick off at 14:30 local time (12:30 UTC).
)