Once rumored to be with Olympique de Marseille, and followed by Lille and Lens who were fighting for his signature, Romain Saïss has finally left Besiktas for Qatar. A surprising choice, particularly for his future with the Moroccan national team. However, the new Al-Sadd player has no doubts about his ability to remain in Walid Regragui’s squad.
Romain Saïss has made a strong choice. Courted by Lille and Lens, the Moroccan international has opted for Qatar. The defender has signed for Al-Sadd. If this destination came as a surprise, so did his desire to leave Besiktas. A club where he spent just one season. In an interview with Foot Mercato, the Atlas Lions captain revealed his motivation: a disagreement with his coach. “If I made the choice to leave Besiktas, it has nothing to do with the club, the fans or my team-mates. The only problem is with the coach (editor’s note: Şenol Güneş).
Since he arrived, there’s been an accumulation of things that led me to say I had to leave because I couldn’t trust a person like that. It all started at the World Cup.He blamed me for things. If you don’t agree with what I do, that’s not a problem. But you can’t come before the press to make yourself look good and then in private say the opposite. You can’t cut me down in front of the press because I’m going to play an injured semi-final for my country, and then say in private that I did the right thing and that he would have done the same thing.
Qatar, a good choice according to Saïss
Romain Saïss had contacts with several European clubs. By signing for Lens, the former Wolverhampton man could have played in the Champions League, a competition he has never played in in his career.And if some doubt his ability to compete for the national team, he doesn’t.
“It’s a considered choice. I weighed up the pros and cons. Today, I wanted to give a new twist to my career by deciding with my family. It’s the best possible solution.I already know what people are going to say, that I’m coming into early retirement. But that’s not the case at all. I’m still looking forward to playing in the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup in 2026. I’ll be 36. I’ve always made choices in relation to my selection. I’m the most capped player in the team, I’m captain. I know what I have to do and I don’t wait for anyone to tell me what I have to do to stay competitive. Let’s face it, Qatar isn’t the Premier League.But I’m 33, I know myself well enough and I know what I have to do for my own good and that of the national team. That’s my priority,” says Romain Saïss.
For the national team, “it doesn’t change anything”.
With AFCON 2023 just six months away, Morocco is expected to be one of the big favorites and while places are at a premium, Romain Saïss believes he will fight to keep his international status. Asked whether going to Qatar means a change of objective for the national team, the former Angers player replies: “It doesn’t change anything.I know what I have to do to stay competitive. I think I’m a good professional. I know my body very well. I’m not asking for any special treatment from the coach. I want to arrive there the same.When I signed for Besiktas, I was accused of the same thing.They asked me why I hadn’t waited to go to England.I think that with the World Cup and the games I played afterwards, I answered the question,” he begins.
Romain Saïss continues. “When you play for your country, it’s what’s in your heart that drives you forward.When you look at the history of the teams that won the AFCON recently, how many had players in minor leagues?Zambia winning in 2012 with Hervé Renard, I don’t think they had 24 players in the Premier League or anything. It’s a false problem. Everyone would have dreamt of having a career playing for Bayern Munich or City. We’ll do what we’ve always done, we’ll work to show them there’s nothing to worry about. He also points out that, before signing for Qatar, he had a meeting with his coach Walid Regragui. Before confiding his dream: “I want to bring home the AFCON, a trophy that everyone in my country has wanted for years. I’d do anything to contribute to that.
