Emotional ex-Tottenham star Nabil Bentaleb, 30, scores just four minutes into return after suffering cardiac arrest
NABIL BENTALEB scored just four minutes into his first appearance since suffering a cardiac arrest last June.
The former Tottenham star, 30, now plies his trade for his hometown club Lille in Ligue 1.
https://twitter.com/losclive/status/1891266046406897882Prior to last night’s match, Bentaleb had not played since featuring in a World Cup qualifier for Algeria on June 10 last year, having suffered with a cardiac arrest later that month.
He was subsequently fitted with a defibrillator by the same heart specialist that treated his former Spurs team-mate Christian Eriksen.
Following eight months of rehab, Bentaleb was cleared to return to action by the French Football Federation last Wednesday.
Having returned to full training, the all-action midfielder was named as a substitute for Lille’s trip to Rennes on Sunday evening.
Bruno Genesio’s side went into the match having endured a shock home defeat to lowly Le Havre last weekend.
While their hosts had won their first two matches under their new boss, former Newcastle and Aston Villa full-back Habib Beye.
With the score level at 0-0, Bentaleb was called upon to replace Ngal’ayel Mukau in the 76th minute.
Barely four minutes later, the returning star was on the scoresheet – stabbing home the rebound after Brice Samba had saved Chuba Akpom‘s header.
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Bentaleb ran to the bench in celebration, being mobbed by his thrilled team-mates in the process.
Things got even better on 86 minutes, with Akpom scoring Lille’s second to secure a 2-0 victory on Bentaleb’s return.
Speaking after the match, boss Genesio said: “It’s worthy of a film. He deserved it, because I don’t believe in luck, he believed in himself.
“It’s an incredible, wonderful story.
“Nabil’s goal put us on cloud nine, it’s hard to describe. It could be a moment that will mark the end of our season, that will remain engraved in the history of the club, of this season – and in Nabil’s mind, of course.”
Prior to Bentaleb’s introduction, it had looked as if it may not be Lille’s day in front of goal.
Akpom had been denied from the penalty spot, before having a goal disallowed for an extremely narrow offside.
Rennes defender Christopher Wooh was sent off on 74 minutes, receiving a yellow card for bundling the forward over.
Lille’s victory saw them rise back above in Lyon into fifth in the Ligue 1 table, just two points off the Champions League places.
They will return to action this Saturday when they host AS Monaco.