Rulani Mokwena has addressed rumours linking his new club, MC Alger, with an Esperance forward.
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The South African tactician has officially taken the reins at the reigning Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 champions and will be tasked with building on Khaled Ben Yahia’s title-winning campaign from last season.
To do so, Mokwena is expected to bolster his squad with key reinforcements, and one player who continues to be heavily linked with El Mouloudia is Algeria international Youcef Belaili.
The 33-year-old attacker joined Esperance de Tunis from MC Alger at the start of last season, but speculation over a return to the Algerian capital has intensified in recent weeks. Multiple reports suggest that the player himself is open to a move back home.
Belaili enjoyed a remarkable 2023/24 campaign with the Blood and Gold, netting 19 goals and providing 16 assists across all competitions as he played a pivotal role in the club’s domestic treble triumph.
He and South African winger Elias Mokwana formed part of a devastating attacking force in North Africa, but with Mokwana’s own future uncertain, attention has now turned to Belaili potentially rejoining MCA.
When asked about the possibility of Belaili becoming his next signing, Mokwena acknowledged the Algerian star’s immense quality but was tight-lipped on the transfer speculation.
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“I was expecting this question. Belaili is one of the players I followed closely during the FIFA Club World Cup. He’s among the most talented individuals I’ve faced, especially in the matches between Espérance and Mamelodi Sundowns. But I can’t say more—he still belongs to another club,” the Johannesburg native told Foot Africa.
