Youcef Belaili contract dispute escalates as MC Alger reject Esperance claim

MC Alger have insisted they will not surrender their rights over Youcef Belaili’s proposed move from Esperance Sportive de Tunis, intensifying the uncertainty surrounding the Algeria winger’s contractual situation.

The Algerian club’s statement came only a few hours after Esperance announced that it had activated a contract previously signed by Belaili.

Esperance took that step after the end of Belaili’s suspension, which began in March following a complaint lodged by French club Ajaccio. The 34-year-old has also been absent from football since November after suffering a cruciate ligament injury.

Tunisian media have reported that Esperance renewed Belaili’s contract for one season once his suspension had ended. MC Alger, however, subsequently announced that the experienced winger had signed for them.

In a statement, MC Alger said: “The management of MC Alger informs the club’s loyal supporters and the sporting public that the player Mohamed Youcef Belaili has officially signed a contract with the Dean of Algerian clubs. This means that MC Alger’s position is based on an official document, a documented right and a contractual relationship, in accordance with the laws.”

The club also defended earlier claims that it had reached a final agreement with the player.

“The management of the Dean once again confirms that its previous statements, whether through the official statements published on the club’s official page or through the words of the official spokesperson and the team director, were not based on impressions or verbal understandings,” the statement continued.

“Instead, they were based on an official agreement documented by a contract signed by the player.”

MC Alger added that it was following the matter “with the highest degree of seriousness and responsibility” and would take action if conflicting contractual commitments were found to exist.

The club said: “It stresses that it will not give up, in any way, the club’s rights and interests if it is established that there are conflicting contractual obligations, and it will use all available legal and institutional means to defend and protect them.”

MC Alger also called on its supporters to remain calm and trust the club’s institutions.

“In this context, the management of MC Alger calls on the team’s supporters to remain calm and confident in their club’s institutions, and assures them that the management will not be complacent in defending the rights of MC Alger,” it said.

Belaili missed the chance to represent Algeria at both the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup because of his injury.

He made just 12 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring three goals and providing six assists.