Nottingham Forest fans may well remember the name El Arabi Hillel Soudani from the January transfer window.
Stories emerged in Croatia that Algerian international Soudani was the subject of interest from the Championship club, but Dinamo Zagreb weren’t keen on a deal at the time.
Towards the end of the window, Croatia’s Sportske Novosti reported on the chase and that Dinamo had knocked ‘the famous Nottingham Forest’ back.
Sportske Novosti explained: ‘El Arabi Hilal Soudani is the best player in Dinamo. He has in some way become the trademark of the Zagreb club. Practically, today’s team is almost impossible to imagine without that Algerian. Everyone can go, but Soudani cannot.’
That is some praise.
The same outlet asked the player how he felt about the move being denied: “I’m not very sad, but I’m a little sad, because my dream was to play in England. That’s what I’ve dreamed of from since I was little and started playing football. I was just about to realise the dream, but I didn’t get it. However, I have to respect the club’s decision. Dinamo does not want to let me go, and that’s it. This club has given me much, just as I give, feeling it emotionally, in a way Dinamo is my family. That’s why I cannot be angry, but of course I’m a bit sad that I didn’t move to England.
“As soon as I talk to people from the club, they say I have to stay, and I cannot go anywhere. But now people can’t think that decision will affect me, that I will be less motivated for that. There is no talk about it! I will be as motivated as always, I will do my best. I’m a Dinamo player, I have a long term contract.
“However, normally, when a good offer arrives, and this really was good, you have to think about it. Because I’m in a specific situation. I’m not 20, I’m 30… So I’ve had a great opportunity in those years to accomplish what I most wanted, to play on English pitches. Who knows if I ever get bids from England again given my age. But if I don’t have a chance to realise my dream, then it’s nothing. You don’t always get your dreams, do you? But I’ll remember that I had a chance.
“I wanted to be in England because of the great atmosphere at the stadiums, playing against great teams, I think that’s normal. But as I say, hope still exists somewhere, only God knows what will happen by the end of the transitional period I will accept any decision.”
We’re welling up here Soudani.
But, wait, hurrah!
There’s some great news for the player from Friday’s edition of 24Sata, a Croatian newspaper. They say once Dinamo have qualified for the Champions League, Soudani can move to England.
No club is named, but the assumption has to be Nottingham Forest at this stage. And wouldn’t that be a nice end to the story.
