After a successful spell with Raja CA in Morocco’s Botola Pro, 23-year-old left back Mahmoud Bentayg will be playing in France’s Ligue 2 this season after completing a transfer to AS Saint-Étienne this week. After a couple weeks of issues relating to his visa, Bentayg joins Les Verts for a fee reported to be €600,000 where he will join up with a squad that includes other African nationals including Guinea defender Saïdou Sow as well as Morocco youth national team member Benjamin Bouchouari.
The rise of Bentayg was quick in Moroccan football. Initially beginning his career with a club in the country’s fourth division, the Casablanca native first gained notice with TAS Casablanca in the second division Botola 2. Bentayg scored two goals in the 2020-21 CAF Confederation Cup with the club and was an important player before leaving for Raja after TAS’s relegation to the third tier at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.
Bentayg appeared in 35 matches for Raja during the 2022-23 season with 2 goals and 4 assists. He is a left back who has excellent ability when moving forward into the attack and was praised by former Raja CA head coach Mondher Kebaier for his rapid progression in the top tier of Moroccan football during the latest campaign.
