MCA: Youcef Belaïli reportedly resumes negotiations with Espérance

His announced return to Tunis rekindles his future, just days after MCA's official agreement

Africa 28 July 2026 at 14:00

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MCA: Youcef Belaïli reportedly resumes negotiations with Espérance

While MC Alger announced a conditional agreement, Youcef Belaïli has reportedly returned to Tunisia to reopen talks with Espérance, just days after the official announcement of his departure from the Tunisian club.

The Youcef Belaïli saga has taken another dramatic twist. Just days after news broke of an agreement between the Algerian international and MC Alger, several Algerian and Tunisian media outlets report that the 34-year-old winger has headed to Tunis to resume discussions with Espérance.

Return to Espérance back on the table

According to information from WinWin, Espérance’s management has decided to reopen the door for Belaïli and has given him a short deadline to return to Tunisia. The player has reportedly accepted the proposal, meeting with club officials to discuss a possible contract extension.

This development comes after MCA announced, on July 25, a definitive agreement with the 2019 African champion. However, the deal remains conditional on two factors: a favorable ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding his FIFA-imposed suspension in the dispute with AC Ajaccio, and a successful medical examination.

At this stage, Belaïli has not signed any definitive contract with the Algiers club. No new agreement with Espérance has been made official either.

Espérance had previously closed the file

On July 24, Espérance announced the end of negotiations with Belaïli. Yet, a preliminary agreement for a two-year extension, running until 2028, had already been reached on June 5.

The Tunisian club stated it had maintained the player's salary, settled his back pay, and provided all necessary documents for his defense before the CAS. After initially failing to appear, Belaïli and his representative were absent both at the July 21 meeting and at the final deadline set for July 23 to undergo a medical and sign the contract.

Espérance then announced the definitive closure of the case, before, according to the latest reports, reconsidering the decision.

Karim Aouadhi accuses Belaïli of "ingratitude"

Before this latest twist, Karim Aouadhi sharply criticized the way his former teammate handled the situation. In an exclusive interview with Al-Ain Sports, the former Tunisian midfielder recalled the support Belaïli received from Espérance and its president Hamdi Meddeb.

"What Belaïli has done shows a great deal of ingratitude and a lack of recognition," he declared. According to Aouadhi, his conduct also amounted to "a huge lack of respect towards all the components of Tunisia's oldest club."

"He could have left in a better way, which would have allowed him to keep his legendary status at the club. Some things are much more important than money, especially for a player nearing the end of his career," he continued.

These criticisms take on a special significance considering Belaïli’s record with Espérance. Across three spells, the Algerian has played 156 matches and contributed to 106 goals. He also won eleven trophies, including five Tunisian league titles and two CAF Champions Leagues.

His future therefore remains completely open. Until a contract is signed and the CAS delivers its verdict, both the MCA agreement and the possibility of an Espérance extension should be treated with caution.