The 23-year-old Moroccan international, who has gained the trust of Croatian coach Ivan Leko, proved decisive in Dender. “In a dominant team, he can finish off moves, he’s a real penalty area striker, you can’t give him two metres. In Genk, in a complicated match, he only had one chance, he took it (Editor’s note: the goal was ultimately disallowed). It’s proof that he has something,” declared Marc Wilmots, former Belgium coach, on the set of La Tribune two weeks ago.
Benjdida had caught the eye of Wilmots, then coach of Raja Casablanca. At the time, the young 20-year-old player was playing in the club’s reserve team and the coach brought him into the first team. A choice that paid off, especially since at the end of the season, Benjdida had scored 8 goals, revealing himself as one of the prodigies of Moroccan football. But in financial crisis, Raja had to part ways with the young striker, selling him at a reasonable price to Standard who expressed interest in the player, relays The Last Hour.
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When he arrived in Belgium, Benjdida did not speak French, which made his integration into the Standard Espoirs difficult. Very discreet but hard-working, the Moroccan international did not live up to expectations, finishing the season with six goals. But he revealed himself in the A team after being called up by Ivan Leko at the end of last season, scoring a goal in Mechelen (2-3). A goal that motivated the leaders of the Liège club to give him a chance.
Benjdida is trying to convince people that he deserves his place in the squad. But for the moment, he is not able to perform alone in attack. The young player seems more effective in a duo. He does not intend to leave Standard before revealing his talent. Despite his drop in form and his worrying results last season, he had wanted to stay in the Liège club.
