Morocco’s Bounou Reveals Mental Health Struggles Led to Sevilla Exit, Thrives at Al-Hilal

"I wasn’t doing well, it wasn’t me." I arrived in the last year with family problems. I had to draw on my strength and all my experience, but I couldn’t because mentally I couldn’t continue here. I needed a change for my mental health," Yassine Bounou explained to the Spanish newspaper Marca after winning Thursday’s Saudi Super Cup final with his club Al-Hilal. He will add: "When I saw that I no longer had the energy to continue to give everything to the club, the opportunity to leave presented itself. If I had stayed, my performance would not have been the same. It’s out of love for the club, it’s more honest not to be there when you can’t give what is necessary."

Bono’s departure brought Seville more than 20 million euros. With the Spanish club, the Moroccan international experienced ups and downs. He gained fame thanks to his remarkable performances on the pitch. In a final and on penalties, Bono was the Seville hero against Roma in Budapest. But in another final before his departure, the Moroccan goalkeeper was disappointing. His club lost to Manchester City on penalties in the European Super Cup. He lived badly his last year at the Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium: "You can’t stay in a place knowing that you can’t be there. I had very little life. Train, walk the dog, take a nap and think about the next training session."

The Moroccan goalkeeper still has good memories of his time at the Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium: "Everything they gave me was incredible, I will keep it forever. I love them a lot and here they have and will always have a brother who loves Seville like them. As long as we are here, we will never let Seville sink in any way."