RAMY BENSEBAINI

By Aniello Luciano - 10 February 2017

Stade Rennais

Technical Skills

Offensive. When he played as left back for Montpellier, Bensebaini tended to sit deep, as he moved forward almost just for free kicks and corners in order to take advantage of his timing and his height. When Ramy’s coach played him as a centre-back, he learnt to ration his offensive raids, also because of his poor score (four goals in two and a half seasons)

Defensive. He is a versatile player, able to meet expectations on him, whatever his position in the pitch over the years. He stood out for his ability to read the game, calmness, timing in man-marking and a nice left foot, as well as showing quality in building-up the play and heading duels. Recently Bensebaini played as central midfielder, but he still seems to give his best as a centre-back, also due to his lack of sprint in short spaces. For this reason the Algerian-born defender’s way of playing is based on tight man-marking and anticipation. Maybe due to his attitude Bensebaini received too many yellow cards, although he is clean in tackling. Ramy can also make a good use of his weaker foot, probably a legacy of his long and barefoot training sessions on Algiers’ beach.

PERSONALITY

STAMINA

SKILLS

SPEED/REACTION

Career

Constantine, known as Cirta during Roman times, is a city located in the Algerian backcountry and is connected with Sidi M’Cid hill by a splendid bridge across Rhumel River.
Ramy Bensebaini was born there in April 1995. Thanks to his father and grandfather, respectively coach and former goalkeeper, football became his obsession. Against the wishes of his mother Bensebaini left his home at 11 to join Jean-Marc Guillou academy, working under the guidance of co-founder Olivier Guillou. The relationship between the soccer school and Paradou AC facilitated Ramy’s move to the Algiers-based club, where he began his career as playmaker. In summer 2013 Bensebaini toured the whole of Europe to find a club. He was offered trials at Arsenal, playing with Bellerin and Iwobi, and then at Lyon and Nice. None of them was successful, just as previously happened at Porto, although Ramy’s performances were better than in England and in France (at Nice he skipped first training with OGCN due to injury).
According to some rumours the player’s agent and the French club didn’t find an agreement on Samy’s wage. For this reason, Bensebaini final destination was Belgian club Lierse which made him the first footballer from JMG Academy to join a top division club in Europe. Although Jupiler Pro League is more physically demanding than Ligue National du Football Amateur, the first European season was positive for Ramy, also thanks to many young players of African descent (for example Egypt-born Hafez at Lens, now Hector Cuper’s national team member) and to Olivier Guillou. Also on that occasion money made a difference as the young defender was forced to come back to Algeria. It wasn’t a big deal for him, because Montpellier, coached by Rolland Courbis, knocked on Paradou’s door. The role of former USM Alger coach was crucial for Bensebaini’s decision to choose Ligue 1 and the Occitanian club. Following Hocine El Orfi‘s advice, the French coach sees in the Algeria U23 player someone who could follow in Rafael Varane’s footsteps.

What’s really important is to stay reasonable and keep your feet on the ground,

Courbis admonished. Ramy, who is a professional and meticulous guy, took him at his word. The defender lost no time and constantly showed his great desire to improve. Bensebaini’s progress, especially in term of fitness, was evident, but Courbis‘ sack made him lose self-confidence and countinuity. At the end of the season he played 22 games, not enough to be confirmed. Again. But eventually Paradou president Kheirredine Zetchi signed a definitive deal with another French club: Stade Rennais. During the current season Bensebaini maintained his place in the first team wearing number 15 shirt, the same worn at JMG. After all former Algerian national team coach Christian Gourcouff chose him, firmly believing in Samy’s potential. Algerian newspaper “Le Buteur” and El-Haddaf TV named Bensebaini Breakthrough Player of the year, an award that stressed, once again, the label of “promising player”, in the hope that it wouldn’t remain eternal.

Player’s Description

Since his boyhood he has been considered as one of the most promising Algerian talents, and he has been able to manage pressure, showing personality and clarity of mind. He loves going out with his friends and enjoying in the right way. He has two clear aims: being a regular player of the Algerian national team and, in the future, playing for Manchester City, the team of his dreams.