INTERVIEW: Al Ahly’s Bakrar believes playing abroad helped him settle in quickly

Al Ahly first-team striker Mounsef Bakrar expressed his great happiness at joining the club, saying he had been excited about the move from the outset and was determined to give his best, help the club win trophies and make the fans happy.

“Thank God for this step. Al Ahly are a great and historic club, and everyone knows them around the world. When the idea of joining Al Ahly was first presented to me, I was 100 percent excited. I had wanted to take on this experience for some time, but the move did not happen then. After a while, contact resumed, and thankfully everything went well. I am now an Al Ahly player, and I hope to give my best and make the fans happy.”

The Algerian striker also spoke about his welcome at Al Ahly’s training camp in Spain.

“I arrived at the camp late at night, but I was extremely excited. I was a little nervous at first, but the coaching staff and the players gave me a wonderful welcome. From the very first moment, I felt as though I was one of them, which helped me settle in with the group very quickly. I was very happy with the reception and felt comfortable from the start.”

Asked about the beginning of negotiations with Al Ahly, Bakrar said: “Initially, my agent in Egypt contacted me and told me that Al Ahly were interested. We had spoken about Al Ahly before, perhaps around three years ago, but the deal did not happen at that time.

“This time, when my agent raised the idea again, I immediately welcomed it and told him that I hoped everything would work out. Contact and negotiations then began between the parties. I also spoke with Dr Essam Serag El Din, and I would like to thank him for the tremendous effort he made during the negotiations with Dinamo Zagreb officials.

“The negotiations were not easy, but everyone worked as one team. Thankfully, those efforts were successful, and I am now here at Al Ahly.”

Bakrar also recalled his previous attempt to move to the Egyptian giants.

“There had been some contact and interest, but things were different this time. Back then, the club I was playing for demanded a very high fee, and it was not possible for me to leave the team at that stage. That is why the deal did not go through.”

From Algeria to Europe

Bakrar then reflected on his football journey. “I was born and raised in Saleh Bey, where I started playing football. I joined the GSMB academy, which is a small academy, before returning to Saleh Bey. I then moved to MC El Eulma, followed by ES Sétif, and then to Croatia.

“Leaving Algeria and beginning a career in European football was not easy, but thankfully God gave me the opportunity to succeed. I had also been part of Algeria’s youth national teams at Under-17 and Under-18 level, and I continued my journey until reaching the senior national team.”

He added: “I played for Istra in Croatia before moving to New York City FC in the United States, where I spent two years. It was a very important experience for me. It helped me tremendously, both personally and professionally, and I consider it an important chapter in my career.

“After that, I returned to Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb and had a very positive experience there. I was satisfied with the level I produced, and thankfully I was then given the opportunity to move to Al Ahly. I am extremely happy with this step.”

Bakrar said playing abroad had given him valuable life and football experience.

“Being away from home and living as an expatriate teaches you a lot. Life is not easy when you are far from your family and living on your own, especially as a footballer.

“Thankfully, I always remained committed to my prayers and put my trust in God, and He never let me down. Of course, I faced some difficulties and setbacks, but I managed to deal with them. My family was always there for me and supported me.

“Family is the most important thing for anyone. I would like to salute them on this occasion, and I hope I will always remain close to God and to my family.”

Settling into life at Al Ahly

Speaking about the atmosphere inside the team, Bakrar said: “From the moment I arrived, I felt like part of the team. Many people had told me that Al Ahly had a great atmosphere and that I would receive a special welcome, and that is exactly what happened.

“Although I have not spent a long time with the team yet, I feel as though I have been here for a while. I quickly settled into training and all aspects of life within the team, and thankfully I feel very comfortable.”

Bakrar also explained that he arrived in good physical condition after completing pre-season with Dinamo Zagreb.

“I had started pre-season with Dinamo Zagreb very early because the season required intensive preparations. I completed the entire pre-season programme and also took part in preparations for the first Champions League match.

“After the negotiations over my move to Al Ahly were successfully concluded, I spoke with the coaching staff, led by Captain Hussein. Since I had already completed pre-season with Dinamo Zagreb, I did not need to go through another full pre-season programme. So they gave me several days off from training — around 10 days — before I joined Al Ahly’s camp here in Spain.” Bakrar praised the resources available at the club. “Thank God, the players here feel like one family. Everything is available within the team, which is natural for a major and renowned club like Al Ahly. “When you see the facilities and resources available here, you feel that everything is designed to help the players perform at their best. The people at the club are also wonderful. I would like to thank everyone who works hard and puts in the effort for the team. “I hope this season will be a successful one and that we can continue to improve and win as many trophies as possible.” Competition for places On the competition for places within the squad, Bakrar said: “Having more than one quality player in every position is very positive for the team. When the coaching staff have several options, it benefits Al Ahly because any player who gets an opportunity is ready to give his best. “Strong competition pushes everyone to work harder, and ultimately the team is the one that benefits.” Asked which teammates he was closest to, Bakrar replied: “Honestly, all the players are close to me. I always try to get closer to my teammates and understand everything about the team and its atmosphere.” Ronaldo is his role model Bakrar revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo is his footballing role model. “Cristiano Ronaldo is my idol. I love his style of football and the way he plays. He has given so much to the game and has become a role model for many generations. “Ronaldo is a complete player, and what he has achieved throughout his career makes him an example for any player who wants to develop and reach the highest levels.” Algeria ambitions Asked whether the Algerian national team had contacted him following his move to Al Ahly, Bakrar said: “Yes, I was contacted, as were a number of other national-team players. There were discussions about the next stage and the future. “I hope to have an excellent season with Al Ahly so that I can return to the national team. That is the dream of every Algerian player, and I hope God grants me the opportunity to achieve it.” “I want to win every trophy possible” Bakrar made clear that winning silverware is his primary ambition at Al Ahly. “When you join a club like Al Ahly, the first thing you think about is trophies. I have never won an African title, and I hope that with Al Ahly I can win every trophy possible. “Of course, scoring goals and providing assists for the team are also among my objectives, but what matters most to me is winning trophies and going as far as possible in every competition. “Any player who comes to Al Ahly knows that he is playing to win titles. That is a very positive thing because everything is available here to achieve success and win trophies.” Bakrar also spoke about teammate Youssef Belammari’s injury. “We all spoke to him after the injury, and I wish him a speedy recovery. An injury is a difficult period for any player, and it is part of football. We hope he returns quickly and stronger than before and contributes with us to achieving the objectives we are pursuing this season.” “The fans give me great motivation” Bakrar concluded by expressing his appreciation for the support of Al Ahly’s fans. “The fans give me tremendous motivation. I feel a responsibility toward them, and I want to show them what I can offer and what I can add to the team. “No single player can achieve success on his own. We all have to work as one team, every player has to make the required contribution, and our goal must always be to win. “I hope it will be a special season for Al Ahly, that we win trophies and make the fans happy. That is the ambition of every player who wears the Al Ahly shirt.”