PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Faouzi Ghoulam - Maldini’s words of advice

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Jan 24, 2018. 19:00

Last week saw Faouzi Ghoulam crowned the Algerian Player of the Year, with the 26-year-old presented his trophy by Italian legend Paolo Maldini.

Now Maldini has revealed what he said to Ghoulam at the ceremony in Algiers, advising the Napoli defender not to return too early from his knee injury.

“I think he deserves his trophy. [Riyad] Mahrez has won the trophy in both previous editions brilliantly, since he had shone in England, a championship [which is] not easy,” Maldini said in an interview with Le Buteur.

“Ghoulam plays in a team that plays good football and shows a lot of good things. He is a modern defender. He knows how to defend and attack too. It is effective. His dazzling progress impresses me.”

In regards to his advice, Maldini explained: “I asked about him especially about his knee injury. I asked him not to rush to want to come back very quickly. It takes another month to come back stronger. It is necessary to avoid any risk of relapse.”

Ghoulam is looking to return to Napoli’s first team following a major knee injury suffered in November last year, and he could be included in their squad for the Serie A clash with Bologna this coming weekend.