Yacine Brahimi: My five fantastic years at FC Porto | OneFootball

Yacine Brahimi gave a long interview to the Saturday edition of the newspaper O Jogo, in which he explained the reasons that led him to leave FC Porto in the summer of 2019, on a 'free transfer', to move to Qatar, where he first played for Al-Rayyan and currently represents Al-Gharafa, a team coached by the Portuguese manager Pedro Martins.

“I am very happy, it wasn't easy to leave FC Porto, due to the greatness of the club and the years I spent there. But, in just a few months in Qatar, I already felt content. The truth is that this League has grown a lot, each season improves the level of players, structures, and professionalism. I am trying to do my part, giving my best also with the attraction of the Asian Champions League. I am happy to play here, I lead a wonderful life, also for my children and wife. But I work hard to be closer to the highest level,” he stated.

“My decision to swap Europe for Qatar was more of a man's decision than a player's. It wasn't so much about football, I was more in search of the life I needed, some cultural aspects I wanted to nurture for my family. But I am very competitive and I expect the biggest challenges. During these years, first at Al Rayyan, now at Al-Gharafa, I had offers, but I respected my contracts. I am well here, I am well treated, I am very comfortable with my family. I never thought about leaving,” he added.

“We should have won more titles”

The Algerian international wore the dragon club's jersey for five seasons, scoring 54 goals and providing 34 assists in 215 official matches. During that period, he won a national championship, a Portuguese Cup, and a Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup – a record that, he admits, leaves him with a sense of wanting more.

“With the players we had, the group involved, for what we played, we should have won more titles. I have that bitter taste of having won only one championship. But I learned a lot, I lived inside one of the best clubs in the world, both for the players, the structure, and the professionalism. It was all top level,” he mentioned.

“Those were five fantastic years for me, as a man too. But it feels bad to have won only one League, it's a sadness that remains and always hurts when asked about it. We should have won much more than one championship, one Cup, and one Super Cup. Other than that, everything was positive. I wish FC Porto the greatest success,” he added.

The forward, 35 years old, assures, however, that he continues to closely follow the blue and white team: “FC Porto is, honestly, the club that stayed in my heart, the same goes for the city and the fans. Those were five memorable years. Of course, when they don't win, and recent years haven't been easy, it hurts a bit.”

“I am sure it will return to its best years, to its best level and win many titles. FC Porto is a club like that! But we know there are tougher times, periods of change. Soon, the Porto fans will see their team win everything,” he concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.