- You were born in Lomme, France in 1996 close to the border with Belgium. Did you always want to become a footballer?

Yes, I deliberately prepared to become a professional footballer one day from a very young age. I was around two years old when I received a football as a gift. My parents said that the ball was virtually with me from then on. I began playing for nearby Lille at the age of six. It was there that I got to know football at a more serious level. I was quite good technically by then thanks to playing with the ball basically everyday.

- Did you have anyone in your family that had played earlier and from whom you inherited this talent?

My father really enjoyed playing football and I am sure I inherited the passion to play from him. It is true that my father only played as a hobby but I still have plenty to thank him for that my dream came true and I could become a footballer.

- Which player did you most admire as a kid that went on to have an influence on you?

Do not ask me why but my favourite team from a young age was FC Barcelona. I remember as a kid being amazed by the movement of Ronaldinho. I loved the way he used to dribble. Both him and Zizou (Zinedine Zidane) were my favourite players as a child. My favourite player today is Messi.

- You played in France until the age of 21 before moving to Holland on loan. Was that a big change in your life?

Yes, I was only with Roda for a short period of time but I learned a lot there. I am not thinking here only about football. This was the first time that I was alone and had to stand on my own two feet. I was also in a different country and there was nobody to speak French with. Sadly I did not place too much energy earlier on learning English and I could not have gotten by without it in Holland. I spent a lot of time learning the language besides playing football. I think I became a real adult in the few months I was there.

- You played for the French youth international sides together with several real stars. They went onto to play for some of the biggest clubs in the world. What did this mean to you?

I am proud to have spent time with such players as Lucas Hernandez, Kingsley Coman or even Dembele. We had a real good group for that international youth team. It is so pleasing to see just how far they went in the game. Their career's are a big motivation to me and I have not given up one day playing for a world famous club. 

- You signed for FC Viitorul in Romania in the summer of 2018. You helped them win the Romanian Cup and SuperCup during your time there. What was it like working together with footballing legend Gheorghe Hagi?

The most successful period of my career so far has been with FC Viitorul. We won the trophies there and I was a regular for them and enjoyed playing. Hagi is a fantastic coach and was not only a classic as a player but also as a manager. He only ever wants to win. I have learned so much from him and loved working together with him. I can confidently say that I have left Romania as a better player than when I first arrived in the summer of 2018. 

- You were nicknamed the magician in Romania?

No, I was given this nickname by journalists in France. It is a fact that I do love dribbling with the ball, but never gratuitously. You could say that my pace and technique are my strengths, which is probably why I was given that name. The Romanian journalists also went on to use it. I am actually proud of that nickname. 

- What targets did you set when you agreed to sign for Vidi?

I really do feel that I have moved forward in my career and want to carry on down this road. It is only normal that I want to win trophies with Vidi. I also want to make my debut for the national team. I do know that playing for the French national team is not a realistic aim. However, my mother is Algerian and my father is from Morocco. That means that both these countries can be an option. So one of my aims is to perform well and bring attention to myself. The year 2020 also brought serious changes to my own life. I got married a few days ago at the beginning of January. So I am excited to move to Hungary with my wife following the training camp. There is no time limit but I would like to become a father within a couple of years.