Moslem Anatouf: Algeria's wonderkid models his game after Victor Osimhen

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“He was wanted by every club in Algeria, but also abroad, where he already has an excellent reputation,” Mohamed Mekhazni said. Mekhazni is the director of sport at MC Algier and he is talking about talent Moslem Anatouf, who joined the Ligue Professionelle 1, which is currently at the top of the table this summer from the Algerian football academy. The 17-year-old is yet to make his debut, but expectations are high for the striker.

“I try to learn from every player,” Anatouf said in an interview with Transfermarkt. “I watch many of them, but mostly Victor Osimhen, who is very strong at the moment, and Erling Haaland.” Like Osimhen and Haaland, Anatouf is a typical center-forward. Athletic, fast, technically gifted, two-footed, and dangerous in front of the goal—he has plenty of quality. But Algier head coach Moussa Dahman likes one attribute: “Moslem anticipates very well,” Dahman said. “He has this ability to foresee what defenders will do next and is always a step ahead. I am convinced that it is that skill that will make him into a great striker.”

Born in Tindouf, Algeria, the striker always tries to improve daily. “He always keeps on learning,” Dahman said. “He keeps asking me questions in training. He wants to learn and add new knowledge, and despite his age, he is always on top of any information and analysis.” Mekhazni agrees with his head coach. “The attribute that stands out to me and assures me about Moslem’s future is his mentality,” Mekhazni said. “He is like a sponge, always ready to suck up new information. But he also takes advice, corrects himself, and always questions himself. You get the impression that you are dealing with a player with ten years of experience. I think he has the qualities for a big career.”

Despite all that, Anatouf has yet to play for the first team. The baptism of fire has been postponed because of two injuries and the nomination to Algeria’s U20 national team. “It only has been five or six months since he arrived,” Mekhazni said. “We want to plan his integration in an intelligent matter. We don’t want to hasten things. It will happen naturally.”

The club, however, is aware that the transition to the first team will be an essential stepping stone in a young player’s career. “What is lacking is the competitive toughness, which would give him the maturity on a personal and team level,” Dahman said. “He has to get first-team minutes in his legs against experienced players; the goal has to be to get playing time, and then we will see. But all that will come.”

Anatouf hasn’t been inpatient either; instead, he remains grounded with both feet on the floor. “First of all, I have to establish myself in the first team and the first Algerian division,” Anatouf said. “I have to improve in many areas to play in Europe; the level there is much higher than in Algeria.” Anatouf has one goal in particular: “My dream is to play for my country at a major competition,” Anatouf said. “At the World Cup, for example. Or why not win the Africa Cup?” Anatouf may not have played first-team minutes yet, but he is certainly ambitious.

From December 1 to 24, we introduce new players from different countries born in 2006 and 2007. Area managers, users, and data scouts come into play as experts throughout the series. You can follow all those players by adding them to your TM watchlist.