Algeria international Nabil Bentaleb has shared his excitement after making a triumphant return to action for Lille in the French Ligue 1.
The former Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder registered his name on the scoresheet on his return from cardiac arrest as Lille cruised to a 2-0 win over Rennes in the top-flight on Sunday.
He found the net just four minutes after his introduction into the crucial match.
Bentaleb has been out of action for close to a year due to cardiac arrest. The 30-year-old Algerian star suffered cardiac arrest back in July 2024 during a five-a-side match with friends.
His career as a footballer took a nosedive due to setback. After several months of inactive football, the enterprising midfielder made a return to the field, helping Lille to secure victory over their opponent in a highly competitive clash.
Early last week, he was given the green light to resume his playing career and on Thursday, he finally made a return to first-team training.
“It is a special moment for me,” said an emotional Bentaleb, speaking to DAZN. “I didn’t know that I was going to come on but on the corner, I knew that I was going to score. It had to happen like that; it is incredible. These are images that will stick with me for my whole life. There are things that you don’t forget,”
It was his first goal for the club since joining in the summer of 2023 from Angers and it is a goal that will not be forgotten any time soon, especially not by Bentaleb.
