Of all the football clubs in all the towns in all the world, Nabil Dirar walks into Chabab

Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine. That's the iconic quote from the legendary film Casablanca. Exactly 80 years since Humfrey Bogart uttered those immortal words, a boy from Casablanca has returned home. Well, 15 kilometres from home, to be precise. But Nabil Dirar has joined Chabab Mohammedia after many years of playing in Europe.

The experienced 36-year-old winger will finally test himself in the Botola Pro. He joined Chabab after his adventure in Turkey ended by leaving Kasimpasa. The man who played 42 times for the Atlas Lions will get his first taste of club football in his homeland - and it will be a fitting end to a long career that was spent in Belgium (Diegem, Westerlo and Club Brugge), France (AS Monaco) and Turkey (Fenerbahce and Kasimpasa).

The tricky winger has had a tough life. He was only a baby when his father passed away, leaving his mother to care for Nabil and his ten siblings. Hardship and hunger scarred the young footballer, who later admitted that he was a bit crazy when his talent started to get paid. In 2019, he admitted to Onze Mondial that he used to party a bit too hard, and spend his money on shiny, expensive things - all the stuff he previously couldn't afford.

"It's true! When you're young, you have nothing, and then you start earning a little money... You lose your head a bit. It's probably taken me four or five years to understand the essentials and stop being stupid. Then I got married, had my little girl in 2012 and changed completely. Now I'm only trying to do well for my family."

Former Monaco represented Morocco in the 2018 World Cup. Even though he left Africa in search of a better life, he still spends every holiday back in Morocco and says that he loves his country. He would still play for the national team, but had to give up so he could spend more time with his young daughter.

Dirar will show love for his homeland in the best way - by living and playing there.

BOTOLA PRO

Friday

20.00: (5.00) Union Touarga (3.45) Raja Casablanca (1.73)

22.30: (2.15) Moghreb Tetouan (3.05) Ittihad Tanger (3.50)

***odds are subject to change