Saïd Benrahma: The Hero Returns
Saïd Benrahma scored his first Ligue 1 goal in over eight years on Friday, propelling Lyon to a 2-1 victory. Learn more about his journey in this biography of Les Gones’ newest signing.
With a magnificent finish against FC Metz on Friday, Saïd Benrahma has officially proclaimed his return to Ligue 1 Uber Eats after eight years away. His long and winding career has taken him from his home Algeria to Nice, but despite becoming a senior international, he has yet to establish himself in Les Aiglons’ first squad.
He did, however, impress in repeated loan periods, eventually attracting the attention of Brentford in 2018. At the time, the London-based team was in the Championship, but their scouting inventiveness, with a concentration on players from outside England, helped them gain promotion. Indeed, Benrahma was one of several players who arrived from across the water, including defender Julian Jeanvier and Bryan Mbuemo, among others.
Benrahma quickly found success in England, finishing his second season with Brentford with 19 goals and a spot on the Championship team of the year. A move to the Premier League beckoned, and he joined West Ham at the start of the 2020/21 season, missing out on the Bees’ promotion bid.
Following his move earlier this month, Lyon spoke to Lyon’s website about how this was a time for redemption, if not vengeance. “I have a bad taste from not being able to perform in France, and I want to prove that I can achieve here. I have been watching Ligue 1 since I was a child, and I am eager to achieve here.”
Success has been slow to come — there is as much competition for attacking positions in Lyon as there is in London — but he and Ernest Nuamah appear to be excellent partners for Alexandre Lacazette in Pierre Sage’s 4-3-3. In addition to his goal and overall ball skills, Benrahma worked hard to demonstrate his progress as a complete player, with his maturity and doggedness making him an excellent complement to younger players such as Nuamah, Malick Fofana, and Rayan Cherki.
Indeed, after the match, Benrahma was philosophical about the outcome, emphasizing the importance of the team’s success: “This goal will give me confidence; after the goal, I already felt much better, I showed more boldness, and I had more freedom. We must continue in this manner; my teammates, the coach, and the entire club have faith in me, and I strive to repay them on the field.”
With that confidence, Benrahma and his colleagues can achieve anything, especially with the Coupe de France still on the line for tomorrow’s quarterfinals.
