Why did Amine Gouiri turn his back on Real Madrid? (L’Équipe)

An article published by the French daily L’Équipe has shed light on a surprising revelation about Algerian international Amine Gouiri, now a striker for Olympique de Marseille.

According to this in-depth report in the print edition, Real Madrid made an official offer to secure the Algerian forward’s signature in the summer of 2020. The Spanish giants were looking to bolster their attack and pair Gouiri with Karim Benzema, who at the time was the club’s attacking spearhead.

Gouiri said no to Real Madrid!

Against all expectations, the player—now 25 years old—turned down this prestigious offer. According to L’Équipe, he chose to join OGC Nice, believing it was important not to skip steps. His goal: to secure regular playing time at a French club, a challenge that seemed far more difficult at Real Madrid, where competition was fierce.

This gamble appears to be paying off. This season, the Fennecs striker is shining in OM colors. He’s received praise from numerous observers including the club’s sporting director, Mehdi Benatia. The Moroccan stated:

« I believe he can become a top striker and we want to turn him into a killer. We don’t let up on him, we push him hard, but he has learned lessons from what happened at Rennes, from the way he lost his edge there. »

Since his arrival in Marseille during the winter transfer window, the former Lyon player has featured in 11 matches, scoring 7 goals and providing 3 assists. These stats confirm his return to the spotlight.

Also read: Amine Gouiri not a fan of Algeria’s all-time top scorer!

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.