Younès Belhanda seeks Ligue 1 return

Younès Belhanda, a 36-year-old offensive midfielder, has expressed interest in returning to Ligue 1 next summer, stating he believes he has the ability to play in the top French league rather than Ligue 2. He previously denied Paris Saint-Germain the French championship title in 2012 while playing for Montpellier.

Belhanda’s recent career moves

Since January 2024, Belhanda has played for clubs in Ukraine, Germany, Turkey, and Qatar. He attempted to return to Ligue 1 during the last summer transfer window but received no offers. Several agents tried to facilitate a move to France, but it did not come to fruition.

Belhanda’s Ligue 1 experience

Belhanda previously played for Nice in the 2016-2017 season and believes he could play for most Ligue 1 clubs, including Marseille. He suggested that Marseille, which has struggled in the playmaker position, might be interested in him. The club’s coach, Bruno Genesio, initially relied on Angel Gomes but has recently repositioned Himad Abdelli as a playmaker due to Gomes' underwhelming performances.

Belhanda’s current commitments

Belhanda will not leave Qatar in January due to his children’s schooling in Doha. He emphasized that any potential return to France will happen next summer. This season, Belhanda has scored 1 goal and made 3 decisive passes in seven league matches for his current club.