'Playing football is a pleasure' - Algeria baller Benrahma coming into own at NEOM SC

NEOM Sport Club’s penchant for all things French became one of the storylines of the summer as Tabuk took on a particularly Gallic flavour.

Not only did they appoint a French coach, in former Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier, they raided Ligue 1 for talents such as Saimon Bouabre, Nathan Zeze, Amadou Kone, Alexandre Lacazette and Marcin Bulka. Also, they added French-born Malian international Abdoulaye Doucoure.

But their love for French football actually began six months earlier when NEOM SC were still in the Saudi First Division League. Although, at the time it was a move that largely went under the radar, it signalled not only the club’s intention, but their ambition.

In late Janaury, NEOM SC signed former Brentford, West Ham United and Olympique Lyon star Said Benrahma. While Algerian by birth, the attacking midfielder had relocated to France with his parents aged 11 and, thus, was schooled in the art of French football.

But despite his professional journey beginning in Europe, Benrahma’s skills were honed on the backstreets of Ain Temouchent and Bel Abbes in his homeland.

It’s that experience of street football that wisened a wizardry on the ball that became his hallmark as Benrahma rose to prominence in the English game, firstly with Brentford and then West Ham.

“I’ve had [this style] since I was a kid,” Benrahma, who is the youngest of seven siblings, said in a 2020 interview after moving to the east side of London.

“I was born in Algeria, and I used to enjoy myself playing in the streets, because for me, playing football is a pleasure. So, it’s about trying to repeat the moves I used to perform outdoors when I was a kid.

“That’s how it is back there. I think Algerians are all the same in that sense: we all like to have the ball at our feet and play with it.”

As he fast developed a reputation for his ability to cheekily put the ball through the legs of defenders, Benrahma’s former Brentford B assistant coach, Sam Saunders, once quipped: “He could nutmeg a mermaid.”

In two full seasons at Brentford, who were in England’s second tier at the time, Benrahma scored 27 goals and became much sought after, with the likes of Chelsea and Aston Villa reportedly keen. Yet, it was West Ham who finally acquired his services in October 2020.

After four seasons at the club, even helping them to continental silverware in the form of the 2023 UEFA European Conference League - he scored in the final against Fiorentina - Benrahma returned to France with Lyon.

It was there, in fact, that he teamed up with Lacazette, his future NEOM SC teammate.

After less than a year in France, however, and still in his prime at 29, Benrahma’s transfer - he joined initially on loan - to NEOM SC was a portent of things to come for the mega-project club.

NEOM SC's French connection brings distinct flavour to Tabuk

Club host RSL for 1st time in history this Thursday

Alongside 2022-23 RSL title-winning captain Ahmed Hegazi, they are the only foreign players to remain on the club’s books from their promotion-winning team. A proper NEOM SC original, if you will.

While it took some time to get on the scoresheet this season, after seven goals and eight assists in the final months of last season in the First Division, Benrahma’s form through October has shown why NEOM SC kept him.

And that was headlined by a brace, last time out, against Al Kholood in an important 3-2 win.

The second of those was an early goal-of-the-season contender, Benrahma running with the ball from just inside the hosts' half before unleashing a venomous strike from outside the Al Kholood penalty area that flashed past goalkeeper Juan Pablo Cozzani before he had a chance to react.

It was a strike of such quality that Benrahma’s old pal Lacazette could only stand and applaud. More pertinently, it was just reward for Benrahma’s recent rude health as NEOM SC look to keep pace with those at the top of the RSL (currently, they sit sixth after seven rounds, five points off second).

Now settled in the Kingdom's lead division, Benrahma heads NEOM SC for both chances created (18) and big chances created (6), even if only one of those has resulted in an actual assist. Meanwhile, he ranks behind only Lacazette for total efforts on goal, with 14. His impact is there for all to see.

With Lacazette firing too, Benrahma’s goals against Al Kholood were something of a warning for the rest of the RSL; that, if he can sharpen up the final product, he is ready to take the competition by storm.

Where better to further whip up a frenzy, then, than this weekend, when NEOM SC host RSL leaders Al Nassr. The Algerian international with the flair, fostered in his homeland and refined in France, could just be the man to check the tale-toppers’ trajectory.