Less than 48 hours after signing at Stade Brestois on Monday evening, in the final hours of the transfer window, Youcef Belaïli touched his first balls in training this Wednesday morning with his teammates. The Algerian international left winger, who arrived free in Finistère for at least 6 months of contract in order to compensate for the departure of Romain Faivre in Lyon, finds his teammate in selection, the midfielder Haris Belkebla. “I know him well. He told me a lot about the club. And even Mr Greg [ndlr : Grégory Lorenzi, directeur sportif], that’s why I came. I had contact with three or four clubs, but Brest is my choice.” explains the neo-Brestois, who will wear number 24 among the Ty-Zefs.
Whoever prefers to play like “left midfielder, behind the striker, and all attacking positions”, count well “score goals and make assists” for Michel Der Zakarian’s team. His contract, which runs until next June for the moment, could also be extended depending on his performance by the end of the season. Corn Gregory Lorenzithe sports director of Stade Brestois, does not want to say more: “it only concerns the player and the club”.
Determined to break into Europe
Almost 30 years old, he will celebrate them in March, Youcef Belaïli’s voice is low and a little hesitant at a press conference in front of a dozen journalists, more than usual for the presentation of a player from Brest. A hesitation on the face of it, because Youcef Belaïli is determined to succeed in winning in Ligue 1 this time. “Give everything in Europe to show people” its true value, four years after a first missed visit to France.
In the summer of 2017, he signed with SCO d’Angers. At the time, he was released from a two-year suspension for two positive cocaine tests. His attempt to rebound in Anjou, his first experience outside Africa, fell short. He leaves four months later, after only 45 minutes of play in the League Cup. “I was unlucky, I didn’t play”, he simply explains.
Mega star in Africa
His career then took on another dimension, thanks to his return to Espérance Sportive de Tunis where he had already played a few years earlier. He then wins twice the African Champions League (2018, 2019). Then Belaïli discovers the modest championships of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, while making a name for himself with his national team. The left winger is one of the big supporters of Algeria’s last victories: the CAN (2019) and the Arab Cup (2021). Hence his enormous popularity with Fennecs supporters, many of whom follow him on social networks to the point of exploding the Stade Brestois counters as soon as he arrives.