Abdelmalek Kelaleche has long been praised as one of Algeria’s most naturally gifted young players, but the CR Belouizdad midfielder must now turn that ability into consistency after being left out of Nabil Maaloul’s squad for the first three league matches of the season.
The 21-year-old, born on 26 July 2005 in Ain Temouchent, played 20 Ligue 1 matches last season. He has also represented CR Belouizdad, signed for MC Alger, spent time in the Tunisian league with Club Africain and returned to his formative club.
His summer ended with a gold medal alongside Algeria U21 at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto. Yet he has not played or been selected by Maaloul at the start of the new campaign.
Kelaleche is included in Africafoot’s #TalentsAlgeriens series, which examines 25 young players to watch in the 2026/27 Ligue 1 season. The ranking considers not only ability but also potential, expected importance to their clubs and the role the campaign could play in their development.
The discussion around Kelaleche rarely begins with his footballing qualities. Coaches who have worked with him consistently highlight his vision, technical control, creativity and understanding of the game.
Sead Ramovic, who managed him at CR Belouizdad, regards him as a genuine number 10: a player who wants the ball, looks for openings and is prepared to take responsibility for changing a match. Mohamed Mekhazni, now technical director at Olympique Akbou and formerly in charge of recruitment at MC Alger, also saw those qualities when he brought Kelaleche to the Mouloudia.
Patrice Beaumelle made a similar assessment after working with him at MC Alger in 2023. The French coach was struck by how quickly Kelaleche connected with Youcef Belaili, identifying similarities in their reading of the game and use of space.
The concern is not whether Kelaleche can play. It is whether he can manage the impatience, outside influence and expectations that have accompanied him through several clubs, coaches and environments at a relatively young age.
Arafat Mezouar, a former CR Belouizdad youth coach who is now an assistant with the first team, has known him since he was 16. He does not describe Kelaleche as troublesome, but says he can sometimes be too receptive to the opinions around him. His confidence is an important asset for a creative player, yet it can become a barrier if it prevents him from accepting the steps required to progress.
Mekhazni has also identified impatience and instability as obstacles. Sofiane Benkhelifa, who has worked with young players at USMA, Olympique Akbou and ES Setif, has been more critical, arguing that Kelaleche’s behaviour and relationship with authority have sometimes slowed his development. He believes the midfielder must show greater humility, citing a previous altercation with Ayoub Abdellaoui.
Beaumelle once sent him back to the youth set-up after taking him to France with MC Alger’s senior squad. His view remains that Kelaleche has the talent to become an outstanding player, but must embrace daily work and listen more carefully.
Other coaches offer a more balanced interpretation. Abdelkader Bouchaala believes it would be dangerous to attach a fixed label to the player too early. Ramovic values his willingness to demand possession and attempt something decisive, while insisting that he must improve his tactical discipline without the ball and learn when to control a game rather than force an opening.
Ishak Ali Moussa, now coaching the CR Belouizdad under-20s, believes regular matches were exactly what Kelaleche needed. After helping him regain his bearings at the club, Ali Moussa said the midfielder had often been poorly advised and insufficiently supported despite exceptional ability.
Kelaleche now faces another important season. At 21, he no longer needs to be told that he is talented. His challenge is to convert that talent into discipline, continuity and a dependable place in the CR Belouizdad team.