Algerian Federation Pursues Mezian Mesloub, Lens's 16-Year-Old Gem

The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has made contact with the entourage of Mezian Mesloub, a 16-year-old midfielder at RC Lens, in hopes of convincing him to opt for the Fennecs before France or Portugal get involved, according to information from media outlet Winwin.

The player caught attention on Thursday in the Champions League: coming on in the final thirty minutes against Slavia Prague, he provided an assist in Lens’s stunning 2-3 victory. A performance that did not escape his manager Dino Toppmöller: “It’s incredible at 16 years old to show this character, this personality, to want every ball. We knew he is a player capable of being very decisive, I believe strongly in him.” The Spanish press also praised his impact, Mundo Deportivo estimating that he “seems destined for a brilliant future”.

According to Winwin, the FAF directly approached Walid Mesloub, the player’s father and former Algerian international, who himself coached him in Lens’s youth academy. The Algerian body reportedly presented him with the prospect of a change in sporting nationality, a move that would fit into a broader policy of securing young dual-national talents.

However, the competition is real. Born in Martigues to a Portuguese mother, Mezian Mesloub is eligible for three national teams: Algeria, Portugal — with which he has already played in U16 and U17 — and France. His profile as a versatile left-footer, capable of playing in midfield or on the right flank, naturally attracts interest. Last May, he had already impressed by scoring the qualifying goal for Lens in the Champions League against Nantes (1-0), just five seconds after coming on. The teenager will turn 17 on November 8.