Islam Slimani saga: CR Belouizdad’s star striker eyes European return amid rift

Islam Slimani, CR Belouizdad’s star striker, has been notably absent from the squad ahead of their crucial CAF Champions League match against Ahly.

The team arrived in Egypt today, but Slimani, who missed Wednesday’s training session, was not with them. Tensions between the player and head coach Abdelkader Amrani have been simmering since the clash against Orlando Pirates, with Amrani opting for Aimen Mahious over Slimani in the starting lineup.

The situation escalated last Tuesday during the match against JS Saoura, when Slimani was informed he would be benched. His frustration led him to skip the venue, and he was subsequently excluded from the matchday squad. Despite assistant coach Azzedine Rahim citing an injury for his absence, Amrani dismissed the claim, suggesting the issue was administrative rather than technical.

“His problem is administrative and not technical,” Amrani clarified, expressing hope that once Slimani resolves his issues with the management, he will be welcomed back. The 36-year-old’s future at CRB is now uncertain, with European clubs, particularly in France and Belgium, reportedly keeping an eye on his situation.