The Algerian League champion for the 2023-24 season, Mouloudia Club of Algiers, has concluded its external camp in preparation for the new season, amidst much anxiety and anticipation among the team’s fans due to the officials’ policy regarding recruitment during the summer transfer market, at a time when the team is preparing to participate in the competition African Champions League.
Mouloudia Algiers held a training camp in the French city of Rennes for about two weeks, in preparation for the new season in Algerian Professional Leagueand the double confrontation against the Liberian club, Watanga, in the preliminary round of the African Champions League, from August 18 to 23.
The Algerian club experienced a major crisis after the end of last season due to disagreements between the management and player Youssef Belaili, which forced the Algerian champion to get rid of its controversial player on July 28. It said in a statement in this regard: “The management of the Mouloudia Club of Algiers announces the official departure of player Youssef Belaili from the team after one season spent with the dean of Algerian clubs.”
He continued: “This is after the management of “Al-Ameed” reached an agreement with its counterpart from the Tunisian sports club, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, which was the only team that submitted an offer to include the player who was bound by a contract with Mouloudia until June 2025,” and concluded: “The management of Mouloudia extends its sincere thanks to the player for everything he has provided to the team and wishes him all the best in his upcoming experience with Esperance Sportive de Tunis.”
Although Belaili left for Taraji about 15 days ago, the repercussions of his departure from Mouloudia d’Alger still cast a shadow over the team, especially in light of the fans’ anger at the management’s failure to replace Belaili with a player of his value or to bring in well-known names.
Fans angry at Mouloudia d’Alger’s recruitment
The fans of Mouloudia Club of Algiers poured out their anger on the team’s officials on various social media platforms, due to the recruitments they have made so far, as a large segment of the fans of the Algerian champion believe that the current recruitments are few and do not live up to their aspirations and ambitions, especially since Mouloudia will be concerned with defending its title and participating in the African Champions League.
Mouloudia d’Alger has only signed five players so far, most notably the former star of Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca, Zakaria Draoui, the goalkeeper of Paradou AC, Tawfik Moussaoui, and the defender of Chabab Saoura, Marouane Khalif, in addition to two Ivorian players, the first being Kerry Junior, the star of Tanzanian club Azam, and the second being Serge Anthony Bajo, the defender of Ivorian club Abobo.
Mouloudia Algiers fans confirm that the team’s management has not succeeded in signing big names, especially to compensate for the departure of the team’s first star, Youssef Belaili, who contributed to scoring 30 goals during 26 matches he played with Mouloudia Algiers last season, including 16 goals scored and 14 goals assisted.
Mouloudia fans fear a decline in the team’s results in the Algerian league this season, following the actions of other competing clubs in Algeria, such as the Union of the Capital, Chabab Belouizdad and Chabab Belouizdad, who moved strongly in the summer transfer market, in addition to fears of a modest participation in the African Champions League competition.
