Youcef Belaili contract dispute escalates between MC Alger and Esperance de Tunis

MC Alger has issued a strong warning to Esperance de Tunis over the future of Youcef Belaili, saying it holds an official document confirming an agreement with the Algeria international and could take the case to the relevant authorities.

Belaili, 34, has become embroiled in a new contractual dispute shortly after emerging from a lengthy legal battle. The winger was recently cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which overturned a one-year suspension originally imposed by FIFA in connection with a dispute involving his former club Ajaccio.

The lifting of that suspension automatically renewed Belaili’s contract with Esperance de Tunis, according to the details surrounding the case.

The Tunisian club had announced in early June that it had reached an agreement in principle with the player. However, the continuation of their relationship was made conditional on a favourable ruling from CAS.

The situation then changed when Belaili failed to attend his medical examination with Esperance, while moving closer to a return to MC Alger. Esperance subsequently announced publicly that it had decided not to proceed with the extension.

That announcement opened the way for MC Alger to declare that it had reached an agreement in principle with the winger.

However, the uncertainty did not end there. Belaili later resumed negotiations with Esperance de Tunis, effectively turning away from the club he had appeared ready to join. Esperance then issued a statement officially confirming a new contract with the player.

The announcement was viewed in Algiers as a direct setback for MC Alger and prompted a firm response from the Algerian club.

In an official statement, MC Alger revisited the agreement it says it reached with Belaili. The reigning three-time Algerian champions insisted that their position was not based merely on a verbal promise.

The club said it possessed an “document officiel (…) conformement aux dispositions legales” an official document “in accordance with legal provisions”.

MC Alger did not specify the nature of the document or set out further details of the agreement. It did, however, make clear that it was considering referring the matter to the appropriate sporting or legal bodies in order to protect its interests.

The dispute leaves Belaili at the centre of an increasingly complicated situation involving two clubs, following a period in which his immediate future had already been affected by the FIFA suspension and the subsequent CAS ruling.

Esperance’s confirmation of a new contract has therefore not settled the matter from MC Alger’s perspective. The Algerian club’s statement indicates that it believes it has grounds to challenge the player’s return to the Tunisian side and is prepared to pursue the issue formally if necessary.

Belaili has won 58 caps for Algeria and scored 10 international goals.