Belkhdim shrugs off summer doubts and targets Angers’ Rennes game

Yassin Belkhdim is back on the pitch in the role he wants, and with the summer transfer noise behind him. As L'Équipe reports, the Moroccan midfielder, 24 years old, fended off external interest and will remain at SCO, where he expects to have an important part to play in Stéphane Gilli’s midfield set-up.

Market settled, focus returns

With the transfer window over, Belkhdim can now concentrate on the upcoming match. Angers host Rennes this Sunday, with the game to be followed on Ligue 1+, available through L'Équipe, according to the paper. Speaking ahead of the weekend, the midfielder admitted that “summer is a period when the mind can be a bit disturbed,” but he’s confident the uncertainty has eased.

Freedom in a new midfield role

L'Équipe links his decision to Gilli’s approach and the repositioning within the middle of the park. Last season he spent much of his time on the right wing, but now he’s convinced the plan suits him better. In the quotes featured by the outlet, Belkhdim says it was “very important for me to play in the position that is mine”, and explains that Gilli will let him take “freedom” to do more within the system.

Central responsibility for Rennes

With Belkebla and Mouton still in the early stages of rehabilitation, Belkhdim is expected to be more central in the midfield battle versus Rennes. He also wants to progress while moving away from the label of the team’s “marathon runner”. As he tells L'Équipe, “people often say I run a lot, but I’m also an intelligent player,” adding that he knows how to adapt to different match situations.