Football : Yassine Benzia is content for now to play in Azerbaijan

Back in the spotlight lately, Algerian international Yassine Benzia has addressed a topic that has sparked debates among his fans: the future of his club career.

It is known that the 29-year-old player left Ligue 2 and Dijon – relegated to the National division – for Qarabag in January 2023. However, he may not have expected to return to the forefront so quickly.

A season and a half later, thanks to his convincing performances and with Djamel Belmadi being replaced by Vladimir Petkovic in the Algerian national team, the football star has made his comeback with the Fennecs after five years of absence. His return was celebrated with a goal against Bolivia (3-2) on March 22, followed by a brace in the spectacular 3-3 draw against South Africa four days later.

Continuing his momentum, Benzia provided an assist for the 4-0 victory in the first leg of the Cup semi-final on April 2, before scoring a brace, including a sublime free-kick, last Saturday in the league against Sabail FK (4-2). These performances have obviously caught the eye of several clubs. However, the former Lille player is not yet thinking about leaving Azerbaijan, where he won his first league title with several matchdays to spare.

« I have received several significant offers recently », admitted Benzia, who also stated, « I am happy here in Azerbaijan. I don’t want to rush things regarding my future. It is too early to talk about leaving or staying. I thank the Qarabag coach for the great support he gives me. He has also played an important role in my good performances ».

It is worth noting that the player’s contract with his club in Azerbaijan runs until June 30, 2025.

Pascal Amstrong