Hachim Mastour: "I was used as a cash machine and a puppet

Endorsed by Silvio Berlusconi and showcased alongside stars like Neymar, he made history in 2015 by becoming the youngest international player in the history of the Atlas Lions at just 16 years and 363 days.

However, this early fame was not followed by the expected success on the field. Despite undeniable technical qualities, Mastour struggled to establish himself during his successive loans to Malaga or PEC Zwolle. Between suffocating media pressure and a chronic lack of playing time, the player never managed to permanently integrate the European elite, often confined to training sessions or promotional appearances.

A lucid look at a "cash machine" system

After stints in Greece and the Moroccan second division, the player recently provided a candid testimony in the columns of the daily L’Équipe, picked up by La Dernière heure. He describes an entourage more concerned with his marketing potential than his sports development. He claims to have been perceived as a "cash machine" and a "puppet" by a system that prioritized his image over his technical and mental progression.

Now 27 years old, Mastour is now far from the San Siro spotlights. By stabilizing his career in the lower Italian divisions, he seems to want to close the chapter of a career marked by a destructive overexposure in order to simply rediscover the pleasure of playing on the pitch.