VALENCIA. The DNA of French football is the result of the extraordinary combination of recognized indigenous talent and character forged in what were once colonies. According to the UN, and despite the enormous migratory flow from Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal or the Ivory Coast, Algeria is the main country of origin of immigration in France. As curious as it may be, Algeria has been key to the historic past and current successes of French football, a faithful representation of the role of immigration in France for many decades.
Born and raised in the suburbs of Marseille or Paris, they are the pride and reflection of the success of several generations who, since the independence of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, in July 1962, arrived in search of an opportunity. Footballers of inordinate talent who, regardless of representing Algeria or France in international competitions, are a fundamental part of the history and heritage of French football.
Algerian blood does not emerge as a new breed: Zinedine Zidane has already raised a World Cup and a European Championship leading the French team. Later superclasses emerged such as Karim Benzema or Samir Nasri, among many others. Here in Spain, the retired Medhi Lacen made a career in Alavés, Racing de Santander, Getafe and Malaga, a basic piece in the Algerian team that played the World Cups in South Africa’2010 and Brazil’2014, where they fell in overtime against the champion: Germany. These are just a few examples.
Currently, you just have to take a look at the big leagues: Ryad Mahrez (Manchester City), Ismaël Bennacer (Milan), Aïssa Mandi (Betis), Adam Ounas (Crotone), Farid Boulaya (Metz), the former Granada player and Oporto Yacine Brahimi (Al-Rayyan) … and the young promises, or rather realities, of Rudi García’s Olympique de Lyon, who is in the midst of fighting for the French championship: Houssam Aouar, who has already made his debut in the senior category with France , and Rayan Cherki, U19 international.
The career of Sofiane Feghouli (Galatasaray), who wore the Valencia CF shirt between 2010 and 2016, is yet another milestone framed in this reality. Born in the commune of Levallois-Perret (Paris) in 1989, Sofiane was always a supporter of Paris Saint-Germain, a club that, curiously, refused to join him after some tests.
After going through Parisian clubs such as Red Star or Paris FC and before PSG’s refusal to incorporate him, he ended up at Grenoble, a club with which he signed his first professional contract at the age of 17. The 2008/09 season he made his debut in Ligue 1 showing a good level and the following campaign, also in the top flight, he suffered a serious meniscus injury in the first days.
Valencia CF took advantage of the opportunity and signed the Algerian, who was free after a practically blank season and ending the contract with his club in the summer of 2010. After not counting just for Unai Emery in his first months in Valencia, he left on loan in January 2011 to Almería, where he had more minutes. Upon his return in the summer, he made a hole in the squad and competed for 5 years defending the Valencia jersey. He showed a great evolution in his game, which went from anarchic in his early years to intense and unbalanced in his maturity. Mestalla vibrated with its ability to overflow.
His level led him to become a fixture for Vahid Halilhodžić (current Morocco coach) ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where the Algerians were one of the revelations and the former Valencian was a dagger on the right wing. After being international for France in the lower categories, Feghouli has played 65 games with Algeria to date, has scored 13 goals and distributed 13 assists, as well as lifting an African Cup, the greatest success of his career.
However, his irregularity and the ups and downs of the team lead many to argue that Sofiane Feghouli could have gone further at Valencia and even extended his career at the club since, in his best moments, he was a tremendously differential player.
At the end of the 2015/16 season, and after some disciplinary problem with the club, Feghouli left at zero cost and out the back door to England’s West Ham United, which saw a great market opportunity in the Franco-Algerian. In London, he played 27 games, 16 of them as a starter, and scored 4 goals.
“I see all the games of Valencia”
Sofiane Feghouli para EFE Agency (2017).
After an inglorious stint in the Premier League, West Ham accepted a € 4.25 million offer from Turkish Galatasaray; in this way, hammers they made cash for a player who had arrived for free just a year ago.
In Turkey, the former Valencian player has settled down: almost four years and has won two Superleagues, a Turkish Cup and a Turkish Super Cup. In addition, he was named the Turkish Super League footballer of the year for the 2018/19 season. At 31, he is happy in Istanbul, where he has played 17 games this season, adding, despite not being the undisputed starter, 4 goals and 2 assists. In addition, he shares a dressing room with illustrious veterans such as Radamel Falcao, Arda Turan or Ryan Babel. Valencia was left behind, but Soso does not forget:
“I think I was successful at Valencia. I have very good memories and I spent wonderful days there “
Sofiane Feghouli para As
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