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Walid Regragui of Grenoble has taken time out to enthuse over the club’s prodigious young midfielder, Sofiane Feghouli, who continues to be linked with many of Europe’s top sides.
France have had several players over the last few seasons unfortunate enough to be burdened with the tag of being the ‘next Zinedine Zidane’. Grenoble attacking-midfielder Sofiane Feghouli is the latest player to be given such a moniker but, given the praise that team-mate Walid Regragui has given the player, those who share the field with the 19-year-old believe he has great potential.
“When he arrived in the team, he immediately matured,” stated the Moroccan international to France Football. “He adapts very quickly and can raise the level of his game as soon as it is necessary.”
The veteran defender suggests that it could be Feghouli’s ability to keep “his feet on the ground”, which could steer him towards greatness. “He is very respectful and always listens,” the 33-year-old said. “It could have been a problem that we have quite an old squad here but, in fact, he demands plenty of advice from his team-mates. And importantly, he applies this.
Although Manchester United, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus have all watched the prodigious young talent, Regragui asserts that Feghouli’s next side will be a little closer to home. “He knows that his future is first with a French club,” the former Racing Santander man explains. “After that, there will be propositions that he cannot refuse but I am sure he will make the right choice – he is smart enough not to burn his wings. Many players have a huge potential but get no better. Sofiane knows that.”
To score more goals is the target that Regragui has set for Feghouli during the second half of the season and, on Saturday, the teenager will get his first chance to ripple the twine in 2009 when GF38 face Stade Rennais.
