MYS
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Age: 28
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Left-back/ centre-back
Country: Algeria (53 caps, six goals)
Bensebaini is primarily a left-back, although he can also operate in central defence. The 6'1" Algerian got his senior career breakthrough in Belgium with Lierse, before stints with French clubs Montpellier and Rennes. He helped Algeria win the Africa Cup of Nations in summer 2019, his second piece of silverware in three months after Rennes' victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2018/19 French Cup final. All of which understandably caught the attention of Gladbach, who handed him a four-year deal in summer 2019. Bensebaini made his Bundesliga debut in the Rhine derby against Cologne on 14 September. He produced an assist on his third league outing, opened his German account and was sent off on his fourth - against Werder Bremen - before returning to the fray in style with a maiden career brace against Bayern Munich, becoming the first defender to score twice against the Bundesliga's record champions since 1997. Those contributed to five goals in his first season with the Foals, followed by four in 2020/21. In fact, in six competitive appearances against Bayern, he has won four times - he lost the other two encounters - and scored four goals, more than against any other opponent in his career. He also scored four league goals in the 2021/22 campaign, and tallied a career-best six top-flight strikes 28 appearances in the 2022/23 season, including a brace in the Matchday 9 derby demolition of Cologne.
Bensebaini loves to get forward, and has the necessary pace to transition from defence from attack to great effect. He's useful on the over- and underlap, and has a flamboyant side usually associated with No.10s. The Algerian doesn't shy away from a tackle either, much like France and AC Milan's left-sided raider, Theo Hernandez, and former France and Bayern Munich international Bixente Lizarazu.
Bensebaini almost joined three-time English Premier League champions Arsenal in 2015. I spent time there, a month on trial, in 2015, Bensebaini told Ouest France in March 2019. I was training with the first team and I was playing matches with the reserves. I had spoken several times with Arsene Wenger. In the end, five coaches decided my future. Four of them gave me the thumbs up and would have taken me, but one of them said it was impossible to sign me, because I didn't have a European passport and didn't have enough international caps.
"Ramy is a player in his prime; he has amassed a lot of national and international experience in the Bundesliga, the French Ligue 1, the Champions League and the Europa League, and on top of that he is an integral part of the national team in his homeland. We’re certain that his sporting development is not yet finished." - Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl Ramy is an exceptional player. For me, he's the most complete left-back in the Bundesliga. - Former Gladbach coach Daniel Farke He's always ready to give the best of himself. As a coach, Bensebaini is the perfect player for me. You see his combativeness on the pitch. - ex-Gladbach coach Marco Rose He was a young player when he came to us. He didn't have the explosiveness that he has developed whilst he's been here. He used to switch off, too, but he's matured. -former Rennes coach Christian Gourcuff
Source: bundesliga.com
