Youcef Belaïli’s time at Espérance Sportive de Tunis appears to be nearing its end, as the Algerian winger intensifies efforts to force a move back to Mouloudia d’Alger.
The Tunisian club has responded by placing a €1 million valuation on the player, leaving Mouloudia president Hakim Hadj Redjem with a tough decision to make.
Belaïli has made no secret of his desire to leave Espérance, turning down a lucrative monthly salary of €80,000 in favour of a return to his homeland.
His stance has become increasingly firm in recent days, with the 32-year-old refusing to attend training sessions despite the rest of the squad resuming preparations for the upcoming season over a week ago.
In response, Espérance officials have acknowledged that retaining Belaïli against his will is no longer feasible.
The club, however, is keen to secure a significant return on their investment and has doubled the amount they initially paid to acquire the forward from Mouloudia—demanding €1 million to sanction his departure.
This development places considerable pressure on Hadj Redjem, who previously agreed to sell Belaïli to Espérance for €500,000.
Now faced with the prospect of paying double that fee to bring him back, the Mouloudia boss is weighing his options carefully.
The growing public clamour for Belaïli’s return has only added to the mounting expectations.
The people are calling for him, an internal source at the club noted, highlighting the extent to which the winger remains a fan favourite in Algiers.
However, despite the pressure from supporters, Hadj Redjem is reluctant to meet Espérance’s full asking price and is expected to propose a counter-offer well below the €1 million mark.
Belaïli, a key figure in Algeria’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, has long maintained a strong emotional connection with Mouloudia d’Alger.
His eagerness to return to the club is seen as both a personal and professional decision, further complicating the negotiations.
As things stand, the situation remains at an impasse.
With Espérance holding firm on their valuation and Mouloudia yet to table a formal bid, the coming days will prove decisive in determining whether Belaïli’s desired homecoming will materialize—or if the saga drags on through the summer window.
