Adem Zorgane’s attempted return to full fitness suffered another setback after the Algeria midfielder was forced off injured and then sent off following Union Saint-Gilloise’s 3-2 extra-time defeat by Bodø/Glimt on Wednesday.
Zorgane had missed two matches because of fitness problems before returning to the Union Saint-Gilloise starting line-up for the second leg of their Champions League play-off. Despite having completed only one full team training session since recovering, the 26-year-old was selected to play.
The former Paradou AC player, who sees the Brussels club as a platform for the next stage of his career, made a positive impression during his time on the pitch. He regularly found space between the lines, used the ball cleanly and contributed to Union’s work without possession.
His best moment came in the 54th minute, when he delivered an excellent through ball for Louis Patris. Patris’ attempt struck the post, denying Zorgane an assist.
However, Zorgane began to feel discomfort around the 68th minute. He was replaced two minutes later by Rob Schoofs, raising fresh concerns given how recently he had returned from injury.
The exact nature of the problem has not been established, and there is no indication yet of how long he could be unavailable.
His difficult evening then took another turn after the final whistle. Several Union Saint-Gilloise players were unhappy with some of the refereeing decisions and approached referee Istvan Kovacs to seek an explanation.
During the ensuing confusion, Zorgane and Raul Florucz were both shown red cards after the match. As a result, the Algeria international could now face both a potential injury lay-off and a European suspension.
The situation is particularly frustrating for Zorgane, who had been hoping to rebuild his momentum after being one of the notable omissions from Vladimir Petkovic’s Algeria squad for the 2026 World Cup.
He remains one of the most promising Algerian midfielders in his position, offering a combination of power, passing ability, athleticism and technical control. His return to Union Saint-Gilloise was intended to help him re-establish himself after a disrupted start to the season.
The midfielder has also recently been reported to be attracting interest from Olympiakos, although his immediate priority will be determining the extent of the latest physical problem and the consequences of his dismissal.
Zorgane will now hope the injury is minor and that any European suspension does not further delay his attempt to return to the international and club spotlight.
