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Last minute twist in the Saïd Benrahma case. This winter, the 28-year-old was flirted with by many teams. Very quickly, Olympique Lyonnais, looking for several reinforcements on the wings, checked the Algerian’s name. An element which had the advantage of having already played in our beloved Ligue 1. Indeed, he wore the OGC Nice jersey, where he played between 2013 and 2018 with the reserve then the professional team. Then, he was sent on loan to SCO Angers then Châteauroux. In 2018, he caught the eye of Brentford, then in the Championship (English D2).
There, the native of Aïn Témouchent continued his progress before moving to West Ham on loan in 2020. Author of one goal and seven assists in 33 matches in all competitions that season, he convinced the Hammers to move forward hand in hand with him. The Londoners spent around 23 million euros to keep Fennec (25 caps, 1 goal). A player who knew how to find a place within David Moyes’ squad. But this winter, the former Manchester United coach opened the door to a departure for his player, author of 22 matches in all competitions.
West Ham scuppered the transfer of Saïd Benrahma to Lyon!
OL, but also Olympique de Marseille, Fulham and Brentford have therefore positioned themselves to recover it. Highly in demand, the player, who did not participate in the last African Cup of Nations with his country, took the time to reflect. While the Gones reached an agreement with the Hammers on the eve of the end of the transfer window, Fulham tried to interfere in the deal to recruit the player. But according to our information, West Ham was not necessarily to strengthen another Premier League team. During this time, Saïd Benrahma gave his agreement to join the French team before undergoing his medical examination, all with the approval of the DNCG.
But while the main players seemed to be heading towards a happy ending, namely a paying loan of €5 million with a purchase option of €15 million, the Algerian’s transfer was ultimately aborted. The reason ? According to information relayed by The Team this Thursday, West Ham did not send the necessary documents on time. According to the sports daily, the London club forgot to enter information in the TMS, FIFA’s transfer software. A real blow for the Rhone club which had just formalized the arrival of Orel Mangala while awaiting that of the former Nice player. Note that OL plans to file an appeal with FIFA.
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Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.