Who is Yacine Titraoui, Lens’s ‘little Verratti’? | OneFootball

Algeria international Yacine Titraoui has joined Lens carrying the “little Verratti” tag after breaking through in Belgium. The 23-year-old, a 1.70 m midfielder with sharp vision, has five senior caps.

L'Équipe notes that his game, built on tactical intelligence, clean passing and tireless off-ball work, caught recruiters’ eyes. Calm under pressure and highly technical, he offers balance in midfield and can drive forward, returning five goals and three assists in 42 matches last season with Charleroi.

Born in M’Sila, about 170 km south-east of Algiers, he came through Paradou AC’s academy. Its alumni include Ramy Bensebaïni, Hicham Boudaoui and Youcef Atal, plus Abdelkahar Kadri, Adil Boulbina and Nadhir Benbouali.

He was named in Algeria’s squad at the last World Cup but did not play, remaining on the bench against Argentina, Jordan, Austria and Switzerland, matches that ended 0-3, 2-1, 3-3 and 0-2. He had featured only briefly during Algeria A’ triumph at the Arab Cup in December 2021, logging five minutes across two games and, at 18, being the tournament’s youngest player.

A move to Dinamo Zagreb in August 2023 collapsed after a medical for opaque extra-sporting reasons, leaving him baffled and prompting Paradou to issue a formal notice to the Croatian club. He answered with a standout 2023-2024, delivering seven goals and seven assists.

At Lens he will wear number eight, the shirt vacated by Mamadou Sangaré after his switch to Brentford. He previously broke through at Paradou wearing 76, and his transfer is valued at eight million euros.

Source: L'Équipe

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