Brighton and Hove Albion youngster Yasin Ayari has criticised AIK manager Mikkkjal Thomassen for how he’s treated his younger brother, Taha Ayari.
Ayari has been speaking to Fotboll Skanalen about his former club, who he continues to keep a close eye on after leaving last year.
He came up through the ranks at the Swedish side, starting in their youth sector and playing for the U17s and U19s before moving up to the first team.
He went on to make 47 appearances for the club before joining Brighton in a €4m deal in January 2023.
Last season saw him spending time on loan with Coventry and Blackburn but he’s now very much a part of Brighton’s first-team squad after impressing Fabian Hürzeler in pre-season.
His focus is very much on continuing that, but it seems one eye remains on his former club, and his younger brother Taha, who is also making his way at the Swedish side. Yasin is happy with that, but less than impressed by the way they’re playing.
“I watch every match. As much as I can. The brother (Taha Ayari) plays there,” he said.
“It’s going well now. Five straight (wins). Six, if you count the cup. But game-wise, it’s not a highlight. But I’m not there so I don’t know what’s going on in training and so on. I don’t have much to say about it.
“I think everyone who understands football understands what I mean. It’s not that hard to see that they don’t play the best football in the world. But they win so you shouldn’t complain.”
It seems he’s holding something of a grudge against Thomassen too, particularly for the way he’s treated his younger brother, Taha.
“He (Taha) gets to play a bit here and there,” he added.
“Lately he has been allowed to start a bit more and he is doing well. He made an assist against Djurgården, for example.
“I haven’t talked to him (Taha) that much. I just think it was shady that he (Thomassen) would take him out so early. I don’t even know why. I have not asked him (Taha).”
Perhaps that’s a question he’ll be raising sooner rather than later, as the Brighton man also admitted the dream is for both players to meet in the Premier League someday.
“That’s the dream. But mostly for the father and the family. That’s what we’re aiming for,” he concluded.
