Algerian international Youssef Atal has been left out of the squad for the upcoming clash against Brest this Sunday, marking the 20th round of the French Ligue 1, despite serving his suspension and being in peak physical condition.
According to reports from France, Atal returned to Nice’s training sessions last Monday after concluding his national team duties with the Algerian squad and their early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Florian Gaspard, the Sporting Director of OGC Nice, addressed the situation in a press conference yesterday, stating, “He’s back… but he won’t be part of the group this weekend (referring to the Brest match).”
Gaspard also left the door open for Atal’s potential departure during the ongoing winter transfer window, saying, “We’ll see what happens in the coming days… Some markets are still open (referring to ongoing transfer activity in certain leagues).
Regarding Youssef’s situation, we will continue to monitor developments.”
Youssef Atal, who is under contract with Nice until the summer of 2024, has attracted serious interest from Turkish club Trabzonspor.
The Turkish side is keen on securing the services of the Algerian defender.
