Midfielder Nabil Bentaleb has secured his club future by signing a fresh contract with Lille OSC extending through June 2028. Firmly committed to the Dogues for the upcoming two seasons, the Algerian international seized the occasion of this official announcement to reflect on his North American journey alongside the Fennecs.
For Bentaleb, jerseys worn representing the national team during a World Cup final tournament carry far too deep symbolic meaning to yield to opponents after the final whistle: “No, I did not swap jerseys. Those kits are far too precious—they represent Algeria. I didn’t seek any exchanges. Numerous family members requested that I keep the collectible Algerian World Cup jersey.”
Looking back at the overall campaign of the Algerian squad, which halted early at the round of 32 against Switzerland, the midfielder candidly shared a hint of disappointment: “It was great, it was a fine adventure. Naturally, a bit of bitterness lingers because we all recognize what could have been managed better. The fixture against Switzerland should have been navigated more effectively. Nonetheless, it remains a magnificent experience.”
When queried regarding his most memorable moment on North American soil, Bentaleb highlighted that clash with Switzerland without hesitation: “My fondest memory remains the match against Switzerland due to the unique pressure and our drive to succeed; we really wanted to perform well. At the end of the day, it’s a World Cup match—an important fixture—even if we failed to control it properly. It stays as my top memory because the atmosphere upon entering the stadium was remarkable.”