The Ismaël Bennacer mystery unveiled | OneFootball

The veil lifted on the Ismaël Bennacer enigma

The Ismaël Bennacer mystery unveiled

After a year shrouded in uncertainty and a painful exit from AC Milan, Ismaël Bennacer has chosen to rebuild on solid ground. Now on loan at Dinamo Zagreb, the Algerian international midfielder (27) is drawing on the expertise of renowned fitness coach Jean-Baptiste Duault, famous for transforming Ousmane Dembélé at FC Barcelona. This personalized support is designed to make up for a lack of preparation over the summer and help him quickly regain full fitness. Coming off the bench in the 66th minute during Dinamo’s victory over Hajduk Split, Bennacer has already shown he can gradually fit into the Croatian club’s plans.

Zagreb as a springboard to AFCON 2025

The loan deal with an option to buy, finalized in early September on the recommendation of Zvonimir Boban, gives Bennacer a platform to bounce back after being left out of Massimiliano Allegri’s plans at Milan. For Dinamo Zagreb, it’s a chance to attract an experienced and technically gifted player who can raise the level in midfield. For Bennacer, this is a crucial step: getting more game time, rebuilding his physical condition, and convincing Vladimir Petkovic ahead of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco (December 21 – January 18). In an Algeria squad searching for stability in midfield, his return to form could prove decisive, especially after a year spent off the radar and away from the pitch.

With Duault’s support, Bennacer is giving himself a tailor-made comeback, where every detail counts in his quest to return to the top. The momentum he’s building in Croatia could be the key to reclaiming his status as an irreplaceable leader for the Fennecs and, in the medium term, targeting the 2026 World Cup.