Youcef Belaili has left MC Alger facing a major internal crisis after flying to Tunisia to negotiate a contract extension with Esperance Tunis, just days after the Algerian champions publicly announced a preliminary agreement to sign him.
MC Alger had revealed on Saturday that they had reached an accord in principle with the 34-year-old winger, subject to a number of conditions, and were preparing to make him a headline summer signing. The deal was presented as all but done, with only formalities left to complete.
However, the situation was dramatically reversed on Monday when Belaili travelled to Tunis to finalise fresh terms with Esperance Tunis, the club many believed had withdrawn from the race for his signature.
The abrupt change of course has left MC Alger, known as “Le Doyen”, in an acutely awkward position after going public with their agreement and building up expectations among supporters.
Esperance’s quiet pursuit pays off
Despite previously signalling that talks with Belaili had been brought to an end, Esperance Tunis had in fact maintained discreet contact with the former Algeria international.
Behind the scenes, the Tunisian giants are understood to have made key concessions that MC Alger were unwilling to grant. Esperance Tunis are prepared to sign Belaili without subjecting him to an in-depth medical examination, a clause that MCA had insisted on and which the player reportedly viewed as a sign of mistrust.
In addition, the “Sang et Or” are ready to proceed with a contract without waiting for the ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), expected on 6 August, concerning Belaili’s appeal over his suspension until March 2027 in his dispute with AC Ajaccio.
MC Alger, seeking stronger medical and legal safeguards before committing, refused to relax their conditions. That stance has now cost them the deal, with Belaili opting for what he considers a more flexible offer in Tunis.
Internal fallout at MC Alger
The failed move has triggered significant unrest within MC Alger’s hierarchy.
According to La Gazette du Fennec, Hakim Hadj Redjem, the chairman of the board of directors, is now considering stepping down from his role. Any resignation talk must be treated with caution, as he has previously used the threat of departure without following through.
More unexpectedly, former Algeria defender Djamel Benlamri, recently appointed as sporting manager and directly involved in negotiations with his former team-mate, could also leave his position. His potential exit would add to the sense of instability at the club, which had invested political and sporting capital in bringing Belaili home.
The episode is particularly bruising for MCA because they had already communicated publicly about Belaili’s imminent arrival, only to see him change direction at the last moment.
A saga of missed medicals and mixed signals
The latest twist is all the more striking given that Belaili had already unsettled Esperance Tunis earlier in the summer.
An agreement had initially been reached for the player to extend his stay with the Tunisian club until 2028. But at the crucial moment, Belaili failed to attend his scheduled medical examination before returning to Algeria, prompting Esperance Tunis to declare the file closed.
That declaration appeared to open the door for MC Alger, who quickly stepped in and moved to secure a deal, announcing their accord in principle over the weekend.
Yet only a few days later, Belaili has reappeared in Tunis to revive the talks he had seemingly abandoned, while MCA are left empty-handed and exposed after publicly staking their claim.
The saga reinforces Belaili’s long-standing reputation as an unpredictable figure in North African football. With him, as events have again underlined, no agreement can be considered certain until the contract is signed – and even then, doubts sometimes remain.
