As last season came to its close, it looked as if West Ham United and Saïd Benrahma (28) had finally come to understand one another, and were reaping the benefits of this mutual understanding.
The winger since his move in 2021 from Brentford FC, had become mercurial in a system that he never looked naturally suited for. His strengths have always been in his capacity to change the game with a mesmeric understanding of where the defender’s next movement was going to be.
However, there was a necessity under West Ham’s manager, David Moyes, that Benrahama improved on the defensive side of the game. The winger under his new manager more often than not flattered to deceive, but last season it all seemed to come together.
The player benefitted from the system and the system could rely on a player who combined a more measured approach to his defensive game with his intense creativity on the ball. Benrahama even scored the opening goal in West Ham’s greatest European victory as the London side won the Europa Conference League.
Yet, that final was to be the start of the decline in his relationship with West Ham. By January player and club were desperate to see the back of each other, and Olympique Lyonnais swooped in to sign the forward.
Despite a deadline day breakdown due to administrative errors, the signing was finally confirmed and the Algerian international returned to the country where his career first began, and a country where he had unfinished business.
‘This was the project I needed.’ – Saïd Benrahma
Benrahma had first developed in the OGC Nice academy system and it was the club where he made his professional debut. However, he struggled to break into the first team and was loaned out on multiple spells across France before Brentford picked up the winger and shepherded him to England.
“I had a bitter taste that in France it hadn’t worked out for me. I had to go abroad, where it worked.” Benrahama claimed in a press conference ahead of Lyon’s upcoming fixture against Montpellier Hérault SC.
He continued, “I want to show that I can succeed in France. I grew up in France, I spent many years there, I need this. I’ve followed Ligue 1 since I was little, I want to succeed here.”
The winger explained, “Lyon is a big club, when they call you, you can’t refuse… This was the project I needed. I had other suggestions, I made a choice from my heart, where I think I will flourish and have fun. I think I made the right choice.”
Benrahama will hope to make his first start for the club in their upcoming game as they look to build on an impressive week where they defeated arch-rivals Olympique de Marseille and progressed further into the Coupe de France with a victory over Lille OSC.
GFFN | Nick Hartland
