Predictions are coming true as the reorganisation of our team continues and intensifies. Our third reinforcement comes with a very special prequel. We rarely see Vitoria de Guimaraes, Dinamo Zagreb, Nottingham Forest or Olympiacos on the list of previous clubs that new members of NK Maribor have played for. After a career in Europe, El Arabi Hilal Soudani, long-term member of the Algeria national team (54 matches, 24 goals), also successfully passed his Arab test. For the past two and a half years, he played and scored goals (Al-Fateh, Damac) in Saudi Arabia, which is currently undergoing a real football transformation; now, he decided to accept a new violet-clad challenge after the termination of his contract with Damac FC.
“This is an important moment for NK Maribor. Our third acquisition needs no special introduction. Soudani represents an important reinforcement. There aren’t many (if any!) foreign players of this calibre in the Slovenian league. He is an extremely high-quality player and our best foreigner who played for Dinamo and comes on the heels of an illustrious international career. We know what we are missing. Our offence must be dangerous, and this is exactly what Soudani brings to the team. His physical condition makes it possible for him to continue playing at a high level for several years. He brings a different understanding of football and an energy that you rarely see. He knows the coach, club and environment, seeing as he lived close by, which will also represent an important starting point as our common story begins. His arrival will also allow us to have the most experienced players bear the brunt of the most difficult moments on the pitch. We are happy with the beginning of this transfer window. I believe that the team will be fully composed, for the most part, before we leave to our preparatory base in Moravske Toplice, and that Maribor’s matches in this new season will be worth a visit,” says the Sports Director Marko Šuler about this high-profile gesture.
El Arabi Hilal Soudani, welcome to Ljudski vrt!
“I’m very happy to have signed the contract to become a member of Maribor. I know this is an important club. I already gained a lot of information about Maribor back when I was playing for Dinamo. I would like to thank the club’s management for their trust, and I hope this season will be an excellent one. I would like us to become champions and fight for the greatest achievements. I’ll feel at home here. For me, it’s also very important to be able to be near Zagreb where my family and friends live. Damir Krznar also had a lot to do with my arrival. We know each other extremely well. We spent a long time talking and I decided to accept the invitation. Age is just a number: What matters is what you show on the pitch, how you take care of yourself and how you train. I’m here to help the team and contribute my share.”
The winger who left a profound imprint at Dinamo Zagreb (196 matches, 86 goals and 54 assists) remains faithful to his trademark number 2. He signed a contract until the summer of 2025 and will be joining the team on Tuesday.