Venezia FC and Rudeš, the Zagreb-based club, agreed a loan with an option to buy that will keep the 21-year-old Moroccan forward in Croatia's top flight until the end of the 2026/27 season.
Venezia's statement confirmed the move covers a temporary transfer with an option clause attached, allowing the Croatian club to make the deal permanent depending on his performances.
El Haddad made four first-team appearances for Venezia, contributing one assist, having featured sparingly under previous head coach Eusebio Di Francesco before spending the second half of last season on loan at Pineto in Serie C, where he made 11 appearances with a goal and an assist.
With Venezia now back in Serie A under Stroppa following promotion, opportunities for fringe attacking players have narrowed considerably, leaving El Haddad without a realistic path into the matchday squad this season.
The move is part of a broader trimming of Venezia's roster since promotion, with the club taking advantage of transfer windows in other countries that remain open later than Italy's to move on players who fell outside Stroppa's plans. Venezia wished the forward well in their statement confirming the deal, closing with a simple message: "Good luck, Saad."
The loan represents a fresh opportunity for El Haddad to gain regular senior football abroad, following a similar pattern to other fringe players the club has sent out on loan since securing their return to the top flight.
Rudeš compete in Croatia's HNL, the country's top division, and the move offers El Haddad a chance to test himself in another European top-flight competition even if the level differs significantly from Serie A. His departure continues a period of significant squad turnover at Venezia as the club adapts to life back in Italy's elite division, with Stroppa working to build a squad capable of competing for survival while continuing to develop the younger talents who helped secure promotion last season.
For El Haddad, regular football in Croatia now represents the clearest route back into first-team contention, whether that eventually comes at Venezia or elsewhere.