Italy: Abate stumbles against the talent of Rafik Belghali

Oct 24, 2026

Rafik Belghali continues to shine in Italy. After his stunning goal with Torino, the Algerian international received significant praise from his coach, who highlighted both his offensive capabilities and defensive improvements.

Rafik Belghali is proving himself with Torino. He scored a magnificent goal in the 3-2 victory against Monza on Friday night, once again making an impression. His coach, Ignazio Abate, did not hide his enthusiasm after the match, just hours after praising his skills in a press conference.

“I said yesterday that Belghali was better than me. And I was right: I certainly didn’t score goals like that,” joked Abate. The former AC Milan full-back then emphasized his player's progress: “He has qualities in the final third. Little by little, he is grasping the defensive principles and improving greatly in his movements and how he receives the ball.”

Belghali, for his part, explained that he rediscovered feelings he had when he was younger during that play. Slightly shifted to the left, away from his usual right flank, the Algerian took his chance and scored what he himself described as a “number 10 goal.” He also highlighted the importance of the work done with Abate and the help from his teammates.

His statistics confirm his excellent start to the season. In Serie A, Belghali now has 6 matches, 348 minutes, 1 goal, and 3 assists. With four offensive contributions, he ranks among the most influential defenders in the Italian league, on par with Carlos Augusto and Nuno Tavares.

DZfoot