Long Time Gone: Nadir Belhadj back at Lens. Is Jimmy Kebe next?

By: Jay | January 8th, 2008

Its been a long time since Algeria international Nadir Belhadj last roamed the training pitch at La Gaillette but this tuesday the player known as “galactic man” by throngs of fellow Algerian countrymen had returned.

After a short and ultimately unfulfilling spell with Ligue 1 champions Lyon the galactic man was signed to a three and a half year difinitive transfer valued somewhere in the range of three million pounds.

The 25-year-old, who can play leftback or in midfield, signed for Lyon last January for 3.4million euros from Sedan but was loaned back to them for six months in the ultimately futile battle to avoid relegation to Ligue 2.

This season Belhadj has found it difficult to break into the Lyon first team as he has been second choice to Italy World Cup winning fullback Fabio Grosso despite looking more effective than the latter in virtually all head to head comparisons. Indeed, Grosso has been a bit of a disappointment at Lyon and it was rather puzzling that coach Alain Perrin did not dislodge him from his place in favor of the rising Algerian star.

“I am delighted to be going back to a region I know already, because Lens is where I came through the youth ranks,” beemed a delighted Belhadj.
“My time at Lyon was not a failure. I trained with great players and I learned a lot, even if my stay was short.
“In any case I leave the club on good terms and I didn’t have a problem with anyone there.”

Thus, Belhadj becomes the second purchase by the Lensois in the past week, having already acquired the services of Toifilou Maoulida from Auxerre.

Meanwhile, the relegation dogfight continues for Jean Pierre-Papin, lying third from bottom the Lensois saw continued dreary play as they were dumped out of the French Cup by Ligue 2 minnows Niort last Friday.

Alas, club president Gervais Martel still has much work ahead of him as talks intensify with names such as Ecuador international Carlos Tenorio, Strasbourg forward Eric Mouloungui, and Ivory Coast striker Kandia Traore among others.

KEBE ALSO RETURNING?

It has been reported in the French press that the blood and gold are also close to bringing back former Lensois Jimmy Kébé currently at Ligue 2 side Boulogne. A new three year contract could soon be signed by the Mali international. I certainly hope this is so.