Hakim Ziyech needs a "change of air" and should join Manchester United from Chelsea, former Morocco international Mustapha El Haddaoui has told Stats Perform.
The 29-year-old has fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge, with just one start and five appearances in the Premier League this season.
A major U-turn occurred at international level, however, with Ziyech back in the fold for Morocco following Vahid Halilhodzic's exit and the arrival of Walid Regragui.
Ziyech has played a key part in the side's stellar performances at the World Cup, with the Atlas Lions reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in their history and becoming the first African side to reach the last eight since Ghana in 2010.
El Haddaoui is now calling for a similar turnaround at club level, as he wants to see a move across the Premier League to reunite with Erik ten Hag, who Ziyech played under at Ajax.
"He has to change of air because over there, [Chelsea] don't trust him. Now he is coming back very strong," he said.
"His problem with Vahid, who didn't want to call him, disturbed him. In the national team, when there is a FIFA date, everyone joins their selections. He stays there [in London] and it went around in his head.
"He sees that among the others who are with him at Chelsea, who go to the national team, he is of the same level, even superior, and he has lost a little bit of confidence.
"The coach who was there or the one who arrived afterwards didn't have much confidence in him.
"Afterwards, when you don't play, you lack playing time, you lack motivation, and you lack timing in the match. Now we see his potential, we see what he is capable of, but he has many offers.
"He has to move from Chelsea or go to Manchester United because the Ajax coach wanted him, he had him in his team. But he will bounce back. But now he has to leave during the transfer window."
Morocco's performances at the World Cup have inspired hope across the African continent, though El Haddaoui was always optimistic about the Atlas Lions.
"It's not just a pleasure, it's an exceptional joy, given what this team has shown, this Moroccan team," he added.
"I believed in it from the start. When the draw was made, I told myself that Morocco had a chance and that they would go through to the second round with another country. I knew that this generation had potential.
"Moreover, with the change of coach, the arrival of Walid Regragui has given new life to this team and the players. He made a call for the return of Ziyech and [Noussair] Mazraoui.
"How can we do without this world-class player? I hope we will go all the way. We were dreaming about it, but now it's starting to happen."
Portugal stand in the way in Morocco's bid to become the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, with a meeting set for Saturday at Al Thumama Stadium.
Newport claim close comeback victory over Colchester
Goals from Will Evans and Omar Bogle either side of half-time saw Newport fight back to beat Colchester with a 2-1 League Two win at Rodney Parade.
The visitors were ahead in the 34th minute when an unmarked Samson Tovide tapped in Jayden Fevrier’s cross.
But County levelled two minutes before the break when Evans diverted in a wayward shot from midfielder Scot Bennett for his ninth goal of the season and his first since September 2.
Bennett then hit the side netting with a superb half-volley before Tovide had a shot scrambled off the line.
And the first half ended with Colchester goalkeeper Owen Goodman escaping punishment after taking man and ball as he raced out to challenge Bryn Morris on the edge of the area.
The Exiles’ winner arrived in the 63rd minute when a defensive clearance hit onrushing striker Bogle and cannoned into the bottom corner.
Tovide headed wide from close range late on before the U’s had Arthur Read sent off for a kick on substitute Kiban Rai.
Crewe extend unbeaten League Two run to six games with win against Gillingham
Crewe extended their unbeaten Sky Bet League Two streak to six matches as Gillingham were beaten 2-0 at the Mornflake Stadium.
Connor O’Riordan and Tom White scored in each half to climb up to third in the table, leapfrogging their opponents in the process.
The Gills went close when Ethan Coleman unleashed from 20 yards with the midfielder’s low drive beating Harvey Davies, but cannoning off the goalkeeper’s right-hand post. George Lapslie then undid some neat approach play for the visitors by hitting a wild effort over.
Crewe took the lead on the half-hour mark with O’Riordan meeting Zac Williams’ lofted cross at the far post with a powerful downward header which found the bottom corner.
Davies beat out Lapslie’s close-range shot after Macauley Bonne whipped the ball across the home box as Gillingham pushed for an equaliser. Within minutes Bonne wasted a better chance after Davies spilled a shot from Robbie McKenzie, only for the striker to stab the rebound wide.
After the restart, Jake Turner did well to block Courtney Baker-Richardson’s angled drive with a boot.
Dom Jefferies lifted a good chance over and Coleman thumped a free header wide with the goal at his mercy from a corner from Conor Mahoney.
But Crewe held firm and sealed victory when substitutes Aaron Rowe and White combined with the latter’s shot trickling over the line despite Turner getting a hand to the ball.
Fin Stevens opens Oxford account in comfortable win over Shrewsbury
Fin Stevens scored his first Oxford goal to help them beat Shrewsbury 3-0 for a fourth straight league victory.
The on-loan Brentford right-back volleyed into the roof of the net in the 17th minute after keeper Marko Marosi only got fingertips to Greg Leigh’s outswinging cross.
Shrewsbury were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Joe Anderson saw red for two yellow cards, having brought down Stevens for a second time in quick succession.
The visitors were immediately punished, Ciaron Brown knocking the ball in from close range in the 60th minute as they failed to clear Cameron Brannagan’s free kick.
Leigh rounded off a comfortable win in stoppage time, firing into an unguarded net from the left touchline after Marosi lost the ball in a moment of madness.
Recalled Oxford striker Mark Harris should have scored when he ran on to Ruben Rodrigues’ pass through the middle – but shot wide.
Shrews had fleeting moments and Chey Dunkley scooped an effort wide.
But the U’s dominated possession and Marosi had to beat out efforts from Brannagan and Marcus McGuane.
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