After having shone with Algeria during the last Arab Cup, the name of Youcef Belaïli has been associated with insistence on the side of Olympique de Marseille. Téo Greuzat went to hear what Touhami.B, a DZ Foot journalist, had to say about him.
The name of Youcef Belaïli has often returned to Marseille in recent days. After having achieved a brilliant Arab Cup with the Algerian selection, the 29-year-old striker terminated his contract with Qatar SC.
Today free of any contract, many supporters would like to see Youcef Belaïli donning the Olympian tunic. However, if he was recently offered to the Marseille club, Foot Mercato had however revealed that Pablo Longoria would not be interested in his profile.
Zubizarreta almost made him come to OM – Touhami. B
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Téo Greuzat went to collect the words of Touhami.B, journalist for DZ Foot, who gave his opinion on Youcef Belaïli … But before going into the details of his position, his characteristics or what he could bring to the OM, the journalist from DZ Foot gave us a retrospective of his career up to the Arab Cup.
“He exploded in the early 2010s at MC Oran, the club in his birthplace. He plays there and he goes to Tunisia, to Esperance in Tunis. A lot of Algerians go there because it pays better. He is having a very strong season and is even elected best player in 2013. He has opportunities in Europe but he does not take them and decides to return to US Algiers. When he is there, he tests positive for cocaine and takes a four-year suspension. Eventually she will be reduced to two years and during that time he does not play football. Chabane, the president of Angers offers him a contract but he has been made misery there. He has never played, he was put in the closet, there were things with Moulin… He remains in reserve even though he was ten times above the others in training. He saw it very badly and he preferred to leave. Back at Esperance Tunis, he hit everything, he won the Champions League and scored an incredible goal in the final in 2018. He made his return to the National Team knowing that he made his first selection under Gourcuff in 2015 before his suspension. Belmadi calls him, he gives him a chance against Togo and he moved to the left, holder. He then does the CAN on the left instead of Brahimi and he hits the mark. He scored against Senegal and Algeria won the CAN in 2019. After that, there were first contacts with OM with Zubizarreta. There are negotiations but in the end he no longer answers him… The transfer window ends, he leaves for Saudi Arabia but Zubizarreta calls him back but he has already signed elsewhere… A really bizarre story. There is still some time in this championship but he has contract issues and he leaves. Then there are rumors in Lyon, in Getafe… But he remains without a club for a while. He has an unbearable situation, he is no longer called up for the national team. Finally, he signs in Qatar SC. He played the Arab Cup there with Algeria which he won against Tunisia but the club released him. He recently told Arab media that there is a 100% chance he will join Europe. ” Touhami. B – Source: Football Club de Marseille (12/27/2021)
Belaïli with Milik, it could work – Touhami.B
On the field, he describes him as a very technical player, the “Maghrebian par excellence”… Very impactful on his left side, he combines well with athletic attackers like Baghdad Bounedjah with whom he plays in the Algerian selection. With Arek Milik, it could also stick well!
READ ALSO : Mercato OM: An Italian cador again on the lookout for Milik?
“Belaïli is a sexy player to watch, he is a fine dribbler. Technically, there is nothing to say, it’s perfect. There is not a failed control, it is the Maghrebian player par excellence. What’s more is that he’s extremely powerful. When he goes throwing, he’s an ox, he’s extremely strong. On the shoulder, he is able to move guys, he can power up, he can push the ball, enhance certain dribbles… He combines technique and physical power. I wouldn’t say he’s very athletic because he’s not a 2000 per hour player. But he’s really physical. He plays left winger but he can also play as number 10. He has gained a little weight, he is not always in very good shape but he has transformed from percussion winger to eccentric leader with sometimes percussion periods. He’s a very good finisher, he comes in, he rolls up… He really likes playing with supporting attackers so with a player like Bounedjah so with Milik it could work. He very much likes to find his attacker in support, to propose solutions behind and to hit with races… ” Touhami. B – Source: Football Club de Marseille (12/27/2021)
He’s a guy who is a little disconnected from the responsibilities he has – Touhami.B
The description of our specialist on Youcef Belaïli reveals some flaws on the personality side. Touhami.B informs us that his attitude is not a problem with his teammates but it is not hard work in training.
“Belaïli is someone you have to manage off the pitch as well. He is not a little thug like there may be in some clubs. He’s not going to screw up etc. He’s a guy who is a bit disconnected from the responsibilities he has. He’s not going to be the one who gives himself the most to training or the most serious. This is what must be managed. We’re not going to say that it’s a wasted career for the moment because he still won the African Champions League and a CAN by being huge, but he could have had a whole other career. There, it sounds a bit like the last adventure, the last chance to do something in Europe. He will be 30 years old in March so it’s kind of his last possibility. ” Touhami. B – Source: Football Club de Marseille (12/27/2021)
