Olympiacos have entered the race for Rafik Belghali — the Algeria international emerges as the main alternative if the Joakim Mæhle deal cannot be completed
- Thrylos 7 Intl Team
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Pablo Maffeo is gone. The question for Olympiacos is no longer whether another right-back is required. It is what kind of right-back José Luis Mendilibar wants. For several days the answer appeared to be Joakim Mæhle: experienced, tactically flexible, proven in Serie A and the Bundesliga, capable of playing either side.
Late Saturday night, another answer entered the picture. Rafik Belghali.
Olympiacos have developed concrete interest in the Algerian international, according to reporting from Kostas Nikolakopoulos subsequently corroborated by Gazzetta. And while Belghali is apparently the alternative rather than the priority, he would represent a very different recruitment thesis.
Mæhle gives Olympiacos certainty; Belghali gives them upside
Mæhle is 29. Belghali is 24. That five-year difference fundamentally changes the economics. If Olympiacos buy Mæhle, they are purchasing immediate performance and versatility. If they buy Belghali, they could potentially get immediate performance plus significant resale runway. That matters in a summer where Olympiacos have increasingly mixed experienced signings such as Remo Freuler with younger assets such as Armando González. Belghali would fit the second category.
His football also looks very compatible with what Mendilibar wants from full-back
Belghali is not a conservative defender. Current Greek reporting explicitly describes him as very attack-oriented, capable of operating not only at right-back but higher on the flank. That profile makes sense within Mendilibar’s football. Olympiacos want width. They want full-backs willing to attack space. They want players capable of receiving high enough to pin the opposing winger or full-back. Belghali offers that.
His World Cup goal against Austria is a useful illustration: he moved aggressively into an advanced position, cut inside and finished high into the net after Riyad Mahrez kept the attack alive. That is not typical stay-at-home full-back behavior.
But two extremely aggressive full-backs could create the same structural risk Olympiacos are trying to eliminate
Nair Tiknizyan has already arrived on the other side. Add Belghali and Olympiacos could theoretically attack with two full-backs whose instincts are predominantly forward. That would make the team extremely dangerous against deep domestic blocks. It could also become dangerous to Olympiacos if the midfield does not protect the resulting spaces. This is why the unresolved central-midfield signing remains connected to everything else.
A Freuler–Hezze–Frendrup/Puerta-type structure becomes even more important if both full-backs are encouraged to attack. The recruitment cannot be evaluated position by position. The pieces have to work together.
Belghali’s age makes the upside attractive enough to justify some adaptation risk
At 24, the Algerian is entering an ideal recruitment window. He has already played senior football in Belgium and Italy. He has become a full international. He has played at a World Cup. Yet Olympiacos would still be acquiring him before his theoretical peak years.
That profile has more appreciation potential than Mæhle. If Belghali performed well in Greece and the Europa League, Olympiacos could potentially create another significant sale later. That possibility does not exist to the same degree with a 29-year-old.
The market around him is much more complicated
This is the major problem. Nikolakopoulos reports that Sassuolo have already reached an economic understanding with Verona, while Marseille and multiple Premier League clubs also have interest. Belgian reporting had already described Sassuolo as prepared to pay around €6m, with a long-term contract ready for the player.
Yet the move has not happened. Why?
Because Belghali himself reportedly wants the strongest sporting level available and does not view Sassuolo as his obvious first choice. That creates opportunity for Olympiacos. It also creates competition.
The player preference is the central obstacle
Current Greek reporting says Belghali’s first instinct is to continue in a top-five European league.
Olympiacos cannot offer that. They can offer something different:
a major role;
Europa League football;
a club expected to win domestically;
a coach whose system encourages attacking full-backs;
and a pathway where strong European performances can lead to another major transfer.
That is the pitch. Whether Belghali finds it more attractive than remaining in Italy or waiting for England is currently unknown.
Mæhle therefore still makes more sense as the priority
Olympiacos reportedly already have broad player-side alignment with the Dane. Belghali appears less convinced by the league. That difference matters enormously this late in August. The club need players who want to arrive, not another prolonged persuasion campaign.
So the current hierarchy reported by Nikolakopoulos looks rational: Try to finish Mæhle. Keep Belghali active as a serious alternative.
But Belghali may actually represent the better asset if Olympiacos can convince him
This is where the decision becomes interesting. Mæhle gives Mendilibar experience now. Belghali potentially gives Olympiacos five or six years of prime-age football, or several years plus a profitable outgoing transfer.
At similar transaction costs, the younger player has obvious business advantages.
The football department must decide whether Mæhle’s certainty and versatility outweigh that upside.
Rodinei’s suspension adds urgency, but Olympiacos should not allow it to dictate the transfer
Rodinei’s stoppage-time red card against Atromitos creates an awkward immediate hole on the right.
But that should not turn into panic. Manolis Saliakas exists.
Olympiacos are buying a right-back for a season and potentially several years, not merely for next weekend.
The correct player remains more important than the fastest player.
Belghali also shows that Olympiacos are maintaining multiple credible paths
That is a positive recruitment sign. Maffeo left.
Instead of becoming dependent on Wolfsburg accepting the Mæhle transaction, Olympiacos have alternatives.
That preserves negotiating leverage. If Wolfsburg demand too much, Olympiacos can pivot. If Belghali decides he will only remain in a top-five league, they can continue with Mæhle. A recruitment department becomes vulnerable when every seller knows there is only one player it will accept.
Olympiacos currently do not appear trapped in that situation.
The next meaningful threshold is now clear
This story is not advanced enough for another generic “Olympiacos like Belghali” update to matter.
The next alert should require something concrete:
Olympiacos submit a formal offer to Verona.
Belghali gives the player-side green light.
Mæhle negotiations stall and Belghali becomes No.1.
or
another club completes Belghali’s transfer.
Until then, he is a serious alternative—not the incoming right-back.
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