After a slump of several seasons, Hachim Mastour engaged in Gazzetta dello Sport about his bad times, mental health, and the surprising new project he decided to embark on.
There was a time when the name of Hachim Mastour was a dream for football fans. Child prodigy, trained inAC Milanhe joined the Italian club at just 14 years old for 500,000 euros, a sum which reflected the hopes placed in him. From the start, he trained alongside stars like Kaka, Robinho, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“In Milan, I felt like a superhero. This jersey made me fly. Everything seemed easy to me. I love big matches, and playing at San Siro was incredible“, confided the one who had surprised by his technique in an advertising spot with Neymar, in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
However, after a promising start, his career took a declining trajectory. Unsuccessful loans to Malaga (2015-2016) and PEC Zwolle (2016-2017) slowed his rise. His time at PAS Lamía in Greece (2018-2019) did not allow the machine to restart. International Moroccanwho dazzled with his talent at just 16 years old with the Moroccan selection, never confirmed the expectations placed on him.
The Moroccan turning point and disappointment
In search of rebirth, Mastour, now 26 years old, turned to Morocco. After a spell in the second division with Renaissance Zemamra, he joined Union Touarga, in the first division. Unfortunately, after only nine games and performances deemed insufficient, the club parted ways with him last summer. This departure marks a new failure for the man who was once considered a future world star.
However, this period in Morocco represented a personal turning point for Hachim Mastour.
“I grew closer to God and prayer. I am Muslim, I read the Koran, I pray. In Morocco, I became even closer to religion“, he confides. This return to his roots allowed him to find a certain balance despite the difficulties.
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A new start in Italy
Free from any contract and return to Reggio Emiliahis hometown, Mastour hopes to relaunch his career. He currently trains with a personal trainer, Stefano Cellario, and plans to return to studies :
“My dream is to prove myself here in Italy. I had offers from the UAE and Europe, but I wanted to come home. Besides football, I am interested in business administration and would like to finish high school and eventually go to college.“
With this new perspective, Hachim Mastour tries to find a balance between his passion for football and his personal life. Although he has experienced depression, amplified by pressure and social networks, he draws lessons from his journey.
“The world of football is not simple. You meet people who don't see you as a boy trying to make his dream come true, but as a money machine. (…) (If I had to do it again, editor’s note) I will take slower steps and I will enjoy each year. At the time, I had no one to guide me. Social media was exploding at the time. What I lacked was someone to manage my image.“
Mastour hopes to finally write a new chapter, far from the spotlight and the excessive expectations of his beginnings.
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