A day with Amyn: Iraq star on RSL, Saudi life, and facing 'GOAT' Ronaldo

Youssef Aymn, precocious and prodigious, is without doubt one of the Roshn Saudi League’s premier young talents.

The Al Wehda forward, 21, has been wowing fans both of the club and the Saudi Arabian top flight since signing for the Mecca side last summer.

And it’s not simply with goals or assists. Aymn can rightfully claim to be among the RSL’s best ballers: check out his skills, his ability to beat a man or to conjure something from nothing.

But what’s his backstory? And what makes his tick?

Fortunately, the Saudi Pro League recently spent the day with the fast-rising youngster to learn more about his upbringing, the decision behind joining the RSL, life in the Kingdom, his Iraq ambitions and coming face-to-face with football’s GOAT. 

Here’s a taster of what makes this massive talent as engaging off the pitch as he is on it.

On why Al Wehda and RSL

“I was in Germany before and then I get contact with Al Wehda. And it was really interesting for me because I was ready to make a new experience in my life. So I was really happy and I talked direct to my family.

“I was ready for a new experience like in Saudi Arabia, like, because my parents are Kurdish from Iraq, I have this Middle East mentality. So it was maybe a two-day decision.

“I didn't know that I would move to Saudi when I was a kid. But for me, it's really important to make experience in life that you can tell to your future kids, to your family and stuff.

"So it was for me a really good decision to come to Saudi at a young age and to be part of this future here in Saudi.”

On first impressions of Kingdom

“First impression was even better than like on social media. How the people are so hospitable, you feel like they are comfortable, like that you have lived here before, like everything is so easy. And the first impression was really good.

On being close to Mecca

“Mecca is something really big in my heart, that you are really close to your religion, and that you a re so close in front of so many good Muslim people in the world. It's amazing.”

On how spends free time in Jeddah

“In the beginning, being honest, it was a bit difficult because I'm used to training in the morning in Germany. So you need to have a schedule in your day. You need to have daily routines.

For example, because the training is in the evening, so you need to sleep also good, you need to try to wake up early, have your gym sessions.

"I like to visit Jeddah, go to the malls, go to find new food spots and stuff so I like it like this. I like to go to the beach. There are so many nice beach resorts here. And I like really the malls and how I say I like to find new foods.

"Here there’s a lot of food spots or hanging out with my teammates also outside the pitch. And, yes, I have such a nice vibe in my day and I like it… Jeddah is for me the best in Saudi.”

On RSL's present and future

“Already it's a really strong league. It's really competitive, really good teams. When you see what kind of players play here, they have a lot of history. So Saudi league is the future, every year it’s getting stronger. It’s really good here.”

On Saudi’s passion for football

“I was impressed honestly. I didn't see on social media, but when you play here, for example against [Al] Ittihad, with these fans, it’s like every game is their final. So I was really impressed about the Saudi people, how much passion they have for football.

“[When playing against Al Ittihad] I wanted to speak with my teammates close to me, but I couldn't hear them or understand them because the fans from [Al] Ittihad.

"Every time when you have the ball, they start to whistle at you, and then they support the other team. It's crazy.”

On coming up against Cristiano Ronaldo

“I grew up with this guy, with him, [Lionel] Messi, Neymar, this generation. So I played them on FIFA, I watched every game for them and, then when you see him like in real life, it's something else.

"Of course, in the game you don't think so much about it because you have your own focus about your teammates. But after one or two you realise, you know, you play against the GOAT.”

On Iraq compatriot Ibrahim Bayesh

“I'm really happy for Ibrahim, because he does a really good job in the league [with Al Riyadh]. We have a really good relationship between the pitch and outside of the field. So we stay in touch and, yes, I'm really happy for him.”

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Check out the full video below, which includes Amyn’s thoughts on how family has shaped him, Saudi’s suitability to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and what it means to represent Iraq and carry his country's hopes at football's showpiece.