Exciting Mohamed Belloumi comparison made as Hull City signing continues to impress
The exciting winger has been a real plus for City in recent weeks
Former Norwich City ace Iwan Roberts admits to being impressed by Hull City summer signing Mohamed Belloumi, even going as far as to compare him to Leicester City Premier League winner Riyad Mahrez.
Belloumi arrived on deadline day from Portuguese outfit Farense and after a nightmare debut against Sheffield United, scored twice in the 4-1 win over Cardiff City, quickly settling into life at City.
Despite the Tigers losing 4-0 at Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon, Belloumi delivered another eye-catching display, coming close to scoring with a delightful free-kick which cannoned back off the crossbar.
Mahrez was a £450,000 capture from Le Harve in France when Nigel Pearson plucked him from Ligue 1 and brought him to the King Power Stadium under the recommendation of scout Steve Walsh, before going on to play a starring role in the Foxes 5000/1 surge to the Premier League title in 2016 under Claudio Ranieri, before making a £60m move to Manchester City.
To be compared to a player like Mahrez, even at such an early stage in his career, is a big positive for the 22-year-old, as he looks to make his mark in English football.
Now 33, Mahrez plays in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli, but the legacy he left following his immense impact on the top flight remains, and for compatriot Belloumi, will surely be an inspiration.
“They’ve got pace in wide areas – and they have Mohamed Belloumi, who scored twice at the weekend,” Roberts told the Pink Un. “He plays on the right and the biggest compliment I can pay him is, at 22, he reminds me of a young Riyad Mahrez when he went to Leicester. He plays on the right and is all left foot.
“For the equaliser, he picked the ball up 20, 25 yards out on the right-hand side. Cardiff just let him dance his way through. He’s just on the edge of the box – I don’t think he’s gone to score, he’s just gone to play it into an area hoping that someone will get on the end of it, but it crept into the keeper’s right hand corner. If you put it in the right place, you’re going to score. He’s got good balance, he’s pacey, he goes past people.
