Medhi Benatia

Medhi Amine El Mouttaqi Benatia[note 1] (Arabic: المهدي أمين بن عطية المتقي; French pronunciation: [mɛdi bɛnatia]; born 17 April 1987) is a Moroccan former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Well known for his tenures throughout France, Italy, and Germany, Benatia represented Morocco at the international level, making 66 international appearances, and most notably captained them to their first World Cup in twenty years.

Medhi Benatia
Benatia playing for Morocco at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Medhi Amine El Mouttaqi Benatia[1]
Date of birth (1987-04-17) 17 April 1987
Place of birth Courcouronnes, France
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
2000–2002 Clairefontaine
2002–2003 Guingamp
2003–2005 Marseille
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Marseille 0 (0)
2006–2007 → Tours (loan) 29 (0)
2007–2008 → Lorient (loan) 0 (0)
2008–2010 Clermont 57 (2)
2010–2013 Udinese 80 (6)
2013–2014 Roma 33 (5)
2014–2017 Bayern Munich 29 (2)
2016–2017 → Juventus (loan) 12 (1)
2017–2019 Juventus 28 (2)
2019–2021 Al-Duhail 38 (1)
2021 Fatih Karagümrük 6 (0)
Total 312 (19)
International career
2005 France U18 1 (0)
2006–2007 Morocco U20 4 (0)
2008–2019 Morocco 66 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Benatia began his career at Marseille, being loaned out to Tours and Lorient before joining Clermont in 2008. Two years later he joined Udinese, spending three seasons there before transferring to Roma. After helping the side finish as Serie A runners-up in his only campaign there, Benatia was signed by Bayern Munich for €26 million, winning the Bundesliga in both of his seasons at the club. In 2016 he moved to Juventus, initially on loan, and was later signed permanently by the club in 2017; he won three league titles with the side, and helped them reach the Champions League final in 2017. Following stints with Al-Duhail in Qatar and Fatih Karagümrük in Turkey, Benatia retired from professional football in 2021.

Born and raised in France, Benatia initially represented his birth nation at under-18 level. He then chose to represent his father's Morocco at under-20 level, making his senior international debut in 2008. Benatia represented Morocco at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In 2019, Benatia announced his retirement from international football, having earned 66 caps.[3]

Early life

Benatia was born in Courcouronnes, France, to a Moroccan father and an Algerian mother.[4][5]

Club career

Marseille

Benatia joined Marseille in 2003, and signed his first professional contract with them two years later.[4] After loan spells at Tours and Lorient, he left for Ligue 2 club Clermont on 1 July 2008 on a free transfer.

Udinese

On 1 July 2010, Benatia signed for Serie A club Udinese Calcio, again on a free transfer. He made 80 league appearances for Udinese, scoring six goals.[6]

Roma

On 13 July 2013, Benatia signed for Roma on a five-year contract in a €13.5 million transfer,[7] with Nico López and Valerio Verre going the other way on co-ownership as part of the same deal.[8] On 26 September, Benatia scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 victory against Sampdoria.[9] After further goals against Bologna, Catania.[10] and Chievo Verona in the second half of the season, he ended the season with five goals from 33 games.[11]

Bayern Munich
Benatia playing for Bayern Munich in 2014

On 27 August 2014, Bayern Munich announced that they had signed Benatia[12] on a five-year deal[13] for a fee of €26 million.[14] Bayern Munich beat Manchester City, Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid, who were said to be also interested in signing him.[15] He admitted he was disappointed to leave Roma but was told he had to go because the club needed the money.[15] Upon hearing this, Roma President James Pallotta was furious and responded by saying he was sold for being a "poisonous liar".[16]

On 17 September 2014, Benatia made his official debut for Bayern in a 1–0 home win against Manchester City, for the opening match of the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League season, where he played for 85 minutes, completing 93% of his passes. In the return match at Manchester City, he was sent off in the 20th minute for denying Sergio Agüero a clear goalscoring opportunity; the subsequent penalty was converted by Agüero and City went on to win 3–2.[17]

Benatia scored his first goal for Bayern on 13 December, opening the scoring in a 4–0 win at FC Augsburg with a header; this result put his club 10 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table.[18] On 12 May 2015, Benatia scored his first Champions League goal, heading Bayern into the lead in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona; although his team won 3–2, they were eliminated 5–3 on aggregate.[19]

He started the 2015–16 season in the German Super Cup, which Bayern lost in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw at VfL Wolfsburg.[20] On 14 August, he headed Xabi Alonso's free kick for the first goal of the new Bundesliga season in a 5–0 thrashing of Hamburger SV.[21]

Juventus
Benatia with Juventus in the 2018–19 preseason

On 15 July 2016, Italian champions Juventus signed Benatia on a season-long loan for €3 million, with an option to buy for an extra €17 million at the end of season.[22][23] He made his club debut on 27 August, in a 1–0 away win over Lazio in Serie A.[24]

On 10 March 2017, Benatia scored his first goal for Juventus in a 2–1 win over A.C. Milan in Serie A, at the Juventus Stadium.[25] On 12 May, Juventus exercised the option to permanently sign Benatia until 2020.[26][27]

In May 2017, Benatia walked out of an interview with television channel RAI Due when he heard racist abuse towards him in his earpiece. The company apologised.[28]

On 11 April 2018, Juventus were leading 3–0 away to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, a score that would have taken the game to extra time as Juventus lost the first leg at home 3–0. Referee Michael Oliver awarded a 93rd minute injury time penalty to Real Madrid after Benatia challenged Lucas Vázquez in the box; the penalty was subsequently converted by Cristiano Ronaldo for a final 4–3 aggregate loss. Benatia said after the game that Oliver's call made him "more and more disgusted by the world of football".[29] On 9 May, he scored twice in Juventus's 4–0 victory over Milan in the 2018 Coppa Italia Final, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.[30]

Al-Duhail

After making only five Serie A appearances during the first half of the 2018–19 season,[31] in January 2019, it was reported that Benatia had completed a move to Qatar Stars League club Al-Duhail.[32][33] On 28 January, Juventus announced the transfer fee, which was €8 million plus a maximum of €2 million in bonuses.[34] He made his debut for Al-Duhail on 16 February, in a 1–0 home win over Al Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League.[35]

Fatih Karagümrük

In the summer of 2021, he moved to Süper Lig club Fatih Karagümrük. He made six league appearances before retiring from professional football on 9 December 2021.[36]

International career
Benatia playing against Algeria in June 2011

Benatia made his international debut for Morocco on 19 November 2008 in a 3–0 friendly win over Zambia at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.[37] He scored his first goal for them on 4 June 2011, opening a 4–0 win over rivals Algeria at the Stade de Marrakech, in qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.[38]

He was part of their squad at the final tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, and played in their first two matches of an eventual group stage exit, defeats to Tunisia and Gabon.[39][40]

Benatia was Morocco's captain at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and played every minute until the 1–0 elimination by Egypt in the quarter-finals. In March that year, he dropped himself from the national team until he became a regular for Juventus, stating "I think it’s unfair to come and play for the national team when I lack competitive football and take the place of someone who is in a better position".[41] On 11 November, he scored in a 2–0 win away to the Ivory Coast that qualified the Atlas Lions to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, their first such tournament for 20 years. He called it "the most beautiful moment of my career".[42]

Benatia retired from international duty in October 2019, having also played at the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.[43]

Style of play

A tall, large, strong, and athletic defender, with good technique, ball-playing ability, defensive skills, and an ability to organise his defence; during his time in Italy, Benatia earned a reputation as one of the best centre-backs in Serie A. He was known in particular for his tackling and ability in the air.[44][45][46]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total Ref.
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tours (loan) 2006–07 Ligue 2 29010—00300[47]
Lorient (loan) 2007–08 Ligue 1 0010—0010
Clermont 2008–09 Ligue 2 27110—00281[48]
2009–10 Ligue 2 30100—2[lower-alpha 1]0321[47][48]
Total 57210—20602—
Udinese 2010–11 Serie A 34300——343[48]
2011–12 Serie A 27100111—382[48]
2012–13 Serie A 1920060—252[48]
Total 80600171—977—
Roma 2013–14 Serie A 33540——375[48]
Bayern Munich 2014–15 Bundesliga 151207[lower-alpha 2]100242[49]
2015–16 Bundesliga 141106[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0221[20][50]
Total 2923013110463—
Juventus 2016–17 Serie A 151105[lower-alpha 2]000211[48]
2017–18 Serie A 202328[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 4]0324[48]
2018–19 Serie A 50001[lower-alpha 2]00060[48]
Total 4034214010595—
Al-Duhail 2018–19 Qatar Stars League 71107[lower-alpha 5]1—152[47][48]
2019–20 Qatar Stars League 180206[lower-alpha 5]0—260[47][48]
2020–21 Qatar Stars League 130105[lower-alpha 5]0—190[47][48]
Total 3814018100602—
Fatih Karagümrük 2021–22 Süper Lig 6000——60[47][48]
Career total 312191826234039624—
  1. Appearances in Coupe de la Ligue
  2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. Appearance in DFL-Supercup
  4. Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
  5. Appearances in AFC Champions League

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[47][51]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Morocco 200970
201040
201151
201280
201370
201440
201540
201640
201791
201880
201950
Total662
Scores and results list Morocco's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Benatia goal.
List of international goals scored by Medhi Benatia[47]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
14 June 2011Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco Algeria1–04–02012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
211 November 2017Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast Ivory Coast2–02–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours
Benatia (fifth from left) in Juventus' 2016–17 double-winning squad

Marseille

Bayern Munich[52]

Juventus[52]

Al-Duhail[52]

Individual

Notes
  1. Though the traditional Arabic spelling is "Mehdi", he spells his name "Medhi". See, for example, his Twitter account, UEFA and Juventus Archived 9 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine.

References
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  2. "Medhi Benatia" (in Italian). Juventus FC. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  3. "Former Morocco skipper Mehdi Benatia retires from international football". Soka 25 East. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  4. Yokhin, Michael (4 February 2014). "Mehdi Benatia – how France lost the best of Generation '87". ESPN. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  5. "INTERVIEW. "Lemerre n'y est pour rien…"". Telquel (in French). No. N° 379. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
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  14. "OPERAZIONI DI MERCATO BENATIA" (PDF) (in Italian). AS Roma. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
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