The management of MC Alger firmly denied having reached any agreement with Ameur Mansoul or initiated negotiations with other candidates for the vacant sporting director position, according to an official statement released by the club. The defending Algerian champions issued the clarification as internal divisions widen among the club’s board, and majority shareholder Sonatrach regarding who should lead the team’s sporting department following a brief and turbulent tenure by Mansoul.
Sonatrach Leadership Divided Between Matmour and Hammache
At Sonatrach, the club’s majority shareholder, Chief Executive Officer Daoudi has given the green light to open discussions with former professionals Karim Matmour and Réda Hamache, as Competition.dz reported. These two candidates have emerged as central figures in the debate over the club’s future sporting architecture. Hamache, an administrator with prior experience in French football with Nîmes—where he facilitated the transfer of Algerian international Zinedine Ferhat—traveled to Algiers in August to present his proposals directly to club officials, according to El Khabar. Despite those preliminary talks, Hamache has yet to receive an official response from the corporation.
Abdelkader Zerrouki Backs Hakim Hadj Redjem for Return
While the corporate CEO favors external candidates like Matmour or Hamache, conflicting preferences have stalled the appointment. Abdelkader Zerrouki, director general of the holding company overseeing MC Alger and secretary general of Sonatrach, prefers former board president Hakim Hadj Redjem for the role, Competition.dz noted. Zerrouki commands support among several corporate executives for this option, potentially offering Hadj Redjem a swift return to the administration after his departure from the chairmanship and his brief transition period as a board member.
Club Denies Unfounded Rumors and Cites Mansoul Departure
MC Alger’s administration emphasized in its statement that the club will not rush its decision, vowing to evaluate all dossiers with care until every required criterion is met to ensure administrative success. The current uncertainty follows the short-lived appointment of Ameur Mansoul. The club initially announced Mansoul—a holder of a UEFA Pro license and a professional sporting director diploma from Italy—as sporting director and spokesperson on September 20.
Former Players and Fans Push for Mohamed Khazrouni
Khazrouni holds backing from club veterans and youth-system advocates who value his intimate knowledge of the institution. As the new leadership under Yagoubi continues to weigh competing internal factions, the sporting director file remains wide open ahead of the team’s upcoming fixtures.
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