UNFP Awards: Younès Belhanda, Best Young Player
Younès Belhanda
Belhanda scored twelve goals for the current
leader in the French championship, which makes this his most successful season
with the Herault team to date.
Montpellier’s coach showed his confidence in
the young player-maker affording him 28 appearances this season and 2’238
minutes of game time, and he was not disappointed with the contribution
Belhanda made to Louis Nicollin’s team’s campaign.
With four assists and the status of second best
goalscorer at the club behind the inevitable Olivier Giroud (21 goals), this Avignon
native is a well-rounded player who has reaped the benefits of his
attention-grabbing performances throughout the 2011-2012 season.
Last Friday, Belhanda was already elected Best
African Player of the Ligue 1 for the 2011-2012 season by a panel of
journalists - an award which bears the name of Marc-Vivien Foé in honour of the
Cameroonian player who died tragically during a Confederations Cup match at
Lyon’s Gerland Stadium on 26 June 2003 - thereby succeeding the Ivoirian,
Gervinho, who was awarded last season.
The Moroccan international (12 caps, 1 goal) is
linked to the Herault club until 2014, but could be tempted to seek greener
pastures. PSG and their Qatari funds
have made Belhanda their priority for next season and plan to offer between 15 and
20 million Euros to attract his services.
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