Montpellier’s talented playmaker, Younès Belhanda, will be sidelined due to a left ankle injury as the team gears up to face Toulouse in the opening match of Ligue 1.
As Montpellier, the reigning Ligue 1 champion, prepares to start the new season against Toulouse this Friday, they will have to navigate the match without the services of Younès Belhanda. The Moroccan international, who suffered a relapse of his sprained left ankle in the recent preparation match against Espanyol Barcelona (0-2), confirmed his absence on his Twitter account, stating, “Out for Friday.” Despite speculation about his departure following the end of the previous season and Montpellier’s French Championship title, Belhanda put an end to the rumors by announcing his commitment to stay with MHSC, at least for the summer. He expressed his decision to continue the adventure with the club, emphasizing his eagerness to play in the Champions League with Montpellier and his joy in defending the team’s colors this year.
This is positive news for Montpellier, which has, until now, only seen the departure of one of its key players from the last season, Olivier Giroud, who moved to Arsenal.
In the concluding part of the 2011-2012 season, the rising star from the Atlas Mountains, playing for Montpellier, participated in 28 matches, scoring 12 goals. Notably, he received the “UNFP trophy for the best goal of the year” for his memorable strike against Olympique de Marseille. Belhanda also earned the UNFP trophy for the best hope of the championship and the Marc-Vivien Foé Prize for the best African player in the French Championship during that remarkable season. At the age of 22, the skillful playmaker represented the Atlas Lions 14 times, finding the back of the net once.
