Born in New York to a Lithuanian mother and a Tunisian father, Hassan Ayari is as multicultural as they come, and Sheffield United are the beneficiaries of it.
The 17-year-old recently joined the Blades’ U18s, having arrived from the TW Braga academy in Belfast in a move that has caused a bit of turmoil, and has already had a few training sessions with the first-team.
A attacking midfielder by trade, the youngster can also play on the wing, showcasing a great ability for dribbling and shooting for a player of his age.
Ayari had a chat with Tunisie-Foot, who wanted to know, amongst other things, about how he’s settled in at Bramall Lane after his departure from the TW Braga Academy.
He said: “I was really happy to join Sheffield United, a great club in England. It was a dream come true. I’m getting along with the team well and have made a lot of friends really quickly”.
Excelling with the U18s, Ayari has big plans for both the present and the future, revealing them all to the website.
He said: “My goals this season are to get the top goalscorer award in the whole academy and to try and play as many U23 games as possible. I also want us to go really far in the FA Youth Cup”.
Expected to sign a professional contract in the near future once he turns 18, Ayari was asked what he wants going forward: “What I want is to play football in the first-team as quickly as possible and to start to make a big name for myself”.
As for his international decision, it seems Ayari is leaning towards his father’s nation.
He explained: “Tunisia have a great place in my heart and it’s a country I always love to visit and see my family. I love the culture and the passion the country has for football. I don’t watch a lot of Tunisian football, but I always see the national team doing well. If I have the opportunity to play for Tunisia, of course, I will”.
