Algerians in Europe 2009 - 2010

[Al-khiyal]

Rafik Djebbour intéresse le club anglais des Blackburn Rovers

Mardi 20 Octobre 2009 -- Les Succès de l’équipe nationale en qualifications au Mondial 2010 donnent de la visibilité aux Verts. L’international algérien et joueur de l’AEK Athènes, Rafik Djebbour (24 ans), dont le contrat en Grèce expire en juin 2011, intéresseraient au moins deux clubs européens : l’italien Bologne (Serie A, première division italien) et anglais Blackburn Rovers (Premier League). Le site Internet anglais skysport.com a révélé, mardi 20 octobre, que Djebbour va passer les deux prochaines semaines à s’entraîner avec les Rovers. En cas de résultat positif de cet essai, Blackburn fera une offre au club grec, selon la même source. Le transfert pourrait alors avoir lieu lors du mercato d’hiver (la période des transferts au milieu de la saison). Blackburn est ainsi le troisième club européen à s’intéresser à Djebbour, en conflit avec l’entraîner du club grec. L’international algérien a effectué récemment un essai non concluant avec Celtic Glasgow (Ecosse). Et selon le quotidien italien La Gazzetta dello Sport, le club de Bologne serait aussi sur la piste de l'attaquant algérien.

[Al-khiyal]

Glasgow Rangers may unload Bougherra for €8.5 million

November 5, 2009 -- Glasgow Rangers may sell Algerian international defender Madjid Bougherra for €8.5 million during the winter mercato, El Moudjahid reported on Thursday (November 5th). The financially-strapped Scottish League champions are reportedly looking to cut their losses by unloading one if their most valuable players. For his part, Bougherra announced on the Glasgow Rangers' website that he would "certainly" finish the season with the club. "I love life here with the Rangers," he said. Bougherra hopes to recover from a recent knee ligament injury in time to join Algeria for the November 14th World Cup qualifier in Cairo.

[Al-khiyal]

Madjid Bougherra interesse le Real Betis Séville

Mardi 1 Décembre 2009 -- Le Real Betis Seville s'intéresse au joueur de l'Equipe nationale. Le club de division 2 espagnole pourrait faire une offre à Madjid Bougherra courant janvier pour l'inciter à quitter les Glasgow Rangers, avec qui le joueur a connu quelques difficultés suite à ses retards pour rejoindre l'entrainement après ces rendez-vous avec les Verts.

[Al-khiyal]

Rangers’ Bougherra linked with Spanish side

December 1, 2009 -- Real Betis are said to be lining up a bid for Madjid Bougherra in January, offering the defender a chance to quit Rangers after a difficult recent spell. The Algerian has angered manager Walter Smith as well as team-mates and fans by returning late from international duty three times in recent months. With Rangers suffering financial troubles and said to need to sell at least one first-team star if a buyer is not found for the club, Betis have been encouraged to rekindle their interest in the defender. The Spanish side were one of a number of teams, including Tony Mowbray’s West Bromwich Albion, who chased former-Charlton player Bougherra prior to him agreeing to join Rangers. Bougherra has become one of Rangers’ outstanding performers but has blotted his copybook with his late returns from trips with Algeria. The player reportedly clashed with Kenny Miller on the training ground last week and Miller and Lee McCulloch have both publicly criticised the centre-back. On his return to the club, Bougherra was dropped to the bench by manager Smith and though the pair have both said the matter has been resolved, Rangers could cash in. The Algerian is due to go to the African Cup of Nations in January but has said he will choose club over country to play in the Old Firm match on January 3.

Betis were relegated to the Segunda Division in Spain last season and are ready to spend money to ensure a quick return to the top flight. The club bid £2 million for the player when he was at Charlton but may have to improve on that figure to sign a defender whose profile has risen considerably since then. Bougherra’s agent, Julien Piveteau, told the Daily Mail his planned talks with the Ibrox club had been moved forward to next week. “There was a small problem with Madjid returning late from international duty,’ he said ‘After Algeria beat Egypt, he went to meet the president and didn’t get back to Glasgow on time. But everything has been resolved and he likes playing for Rangers. Originally, the club told me we would discuss things at the end of this season. But the biggest issue could be their money problems. I have now arranged to go to Glasgow next week to speak to the club. There have been rumours about clubs linked with Madjid, but nothing has been done officially yet.”

[Al-khiyal]

Top Euro clubs vie for Algerian international Djebbour

December 3, 2009 -- French football club St. Etienne will try to lure Algerian international Rafik Djebbour from AEK Athens during the winter mercato, Foot365 reported on Wednesday (December 2nd). German club Bochum already made a €300,000 offer to borrow the striker until the end of the season, with the prospect of an official transfer in June for €1.2 million.

[Al-khiyal]

Bencherif pencilled in for operation

December 7, 2009 -- Macclesfield have confirmed Algeria international Hamza Bencherif will have surgery on his fractured ankle early next week. The midfielder was substituted in only the 28th minute of his side's 3-0 defeat to Rochdale on Saturday following what manager Keith Alexander described as a "horrendous" tackle by Jason Kennedy. Scans have revealed the World Cup hopeful will require an operation to reset the ankle which will leave him sidelined for at least two months. Town physio Nick Reid told the club's official website: "It's not as bad an injury as it might have been." Reid aded: "We can expect Hamza to make an uneventful recovery but he's obviously going to be out of the game for a couple of months or so."

[Al-khiyal]

Algeria defender Yahia needs more rest, German club says

December 8, 2009 -- German club Bochum announced that Algerian defender Antar Yahia needs additional recovery time for a lingering groin injury, Liberté reported on Monday (December 7th). The team doctors have not disclosed how long Yahia must remain off the pitch.