TalentsAlgeriens: Mohamed El Amine Ramdaoui making an early impact at USM Alger

Mohamed El Amine Ramdaoui has made an immediate impression at USM Alger, starting all three matches and scoring twice after arriving at the club later than planned.

The 21-year-old centre-forward was initially expected to need time to adapt. Khaled Lemmouchia, assistant to N’Diaye, had called for patience before the start of the Algerian Ligue 1 season, pointing to Ramdaoui’s late arrival in pre-season and the pressure attached to a significant transfer.

But the forward has quickly moved ahead of schedule.

Ramdaoui played in USM Alger’s opening-day draw against Khenchela before scoring his first goal against El Biar with a close-range finish. He struck again on Saturday against Olympique Akbou, converting a penalty at the second attempt after winning the foul himself.

With two goals, three starts and an increasingly important role, Ramdaoui has been given a more prominent position than any of the other young USM Alger players included in this season’s #TalentsAlgeriens series, in which he is ranked second.

More than a target man

Standing 1.90m tall, Ramdaoui initially appears to be a traditional power-centre forward. His size allows him to compete physically, attack space and hold off defenders, but those qualities do not define his game entirely.

Lemmouchia, speaking in an exclusive interview with Africafoot, highlighted the contrast between Ramdaoui’s physical presence and his ability to operate in tight areas. The forward can act as a focal point, protect the ball and combine with team-mates, while also turning away from pressure and taking on opponents.

Mourad Bounefouf, Paradou AC’s coordinator, has also emphasised that Ramdaoui’s stature does not restrict his speed or willingness to take the initiative.

His first goal against El Biar showed another important part of his game: an instinct for the right position. The finish was simple, but Ramdaoui anticipated where the move would end and arrived at the decisive moment.

Against Olympique Akbou, he influenced the match in a different way by earning the penalty before scoring it, despite seeing his first attempt saved. The two goals came from contrasting situations, but both demonstrated his growing influence in the final third.

Developed at Paradou

Ramdaoui’s breakthrough had already begun last season at Paradou AC, where he scored 10 goals in the league and finished among the competition’s leading scorers, while also providing several assists.

Sofiene Hidoussi, who coached him at Paradou during that campaign, worked with the group to improve the players’ contributions without the ball. For Ramdaoui, that development also focused on responsibilities specific to his position, including playing with his back to goal.

That ability gives him another dimension. He can link attacks, absorb defensive pressure and help his side advance, while remaining capable of making runs behind the defence. Azzedine Ait Djoudi, another former Paradou coach, has likewise pointed to the combination of Ramdaoui’s physical strength and technical quality.

A delayed move to USM Alger

Ramdaoui’s summer could have taken him elsewhere. He was long expected to join USM Alger, but negotiations stalled before a move to Russia emerged. An agreement was reached for a transfer to Baltika Kaliningrad, and the player travelled for a medical examination before deciding not to proceed and returning to Algeria.

He eventually signed for USM Alger several weeks later, arriving after much of the squad had completed its preparation. Despite that delay, Lemmouchia, Bounefouf and Sofiane Benkhelifa all reported no lack of commitment, with Benkhelifa describing him as a composed player.

The coaching staff had initially intended to introduce him gradually, particularly given the pressure surrounding a club such as USM Alger. Instead, N’Diaye handed him the starting centre-forward role immediately and kept him in the team for the first three rounds.

While Bouziani, Ala Eddine Limane and Abderrahmane Achouri are still waiting for sustained opportunities, Ramdaoui is already established in the side.

His development is far from complete, but after three matches the question is no longer when he will get his chance. He has it, and he has already begun to make the most of it.