Boutouil, 24, is widely considered as one of the most technically gifted defenders in the Moroccan top-flight but endured a fallout with former Raja Athletic Club head coach Rachid Taoussi which saw him sidelined for the second half of the season during his season-long loan.
Sundowns, who were previously keen on his services before he made the move to Raja subsequently reignited their interest in his services after being alerted that he may now be on the market at a cut-price.
iDiski Times have now confirmed they have reached an agreement with the Moroccan top-flight outfit for the transfer of the player ahead of opening talks for personal terms, with Boutouil said to be eager to make the switch to the DStv Premiership after being reassured he ‘will be taken care of’ after a nightmare stint in Belgium which previously put him off on the idea of leaving North Africa again.
Boutouil had joined Royale Union Saint Gilloise from FAR Rabat in July 2019 but at the peak of the global pandemic in Belgium, he didn’t feature in a single game as the league was off and spent most of his time in solitary before seeking a loan back to his home country.
However, after his return with Mohammedia, first on loan, before his switch was made permanent, the 2020 African Nations Championship winner once again established himself as one of the leading ball-playing defenders in the country.
And while things may have turned sour at Raja over the 2021/22 campaign, he’s now set for a fresh start at Masandawana, with the deal nearing completion in the coming days.
