“It really hurt”
Dortmund star played barefoot for over three years
25.02.2025 – 2:39 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Ramy Bensebaini learned football in Algeria. The way is confused by one or the other.
Train barefoot, playing without a goalkeeper – the training of Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini was anything but conventional. In the youth academy of Paradou AC in Algeria, the focus was primarily on ball control. To improve them, the young players played barefoot. “Yes, that’s true,” Bensebaini now confirms in an interview with the club TV from Borussia Dortmund.
“You told us that it is about having more control over the ball. If you play with shoes, you don’t have the same control.” He trained and played without shoes for three and a half years – also against opponents who wore regular footwear. “So it was very complicated and very painful, especially when someone stepped on your foot. It really hurt a lot,” confessed Bensebaini.
But not only that: the games initially took place without a goalkeeper. “It was about defending well and pressing the opponent,” the 29-year-old continued. The tactical approach was clear: if the opponent does not come to an end, a goalkeeper is unnecessary. “You could never let your opponent shoot,” he recalled.
Bensbaini has shaped this unusual training sustainably. Today he is noticeable due to his technical security, especially when accepting the ball and processing high passports. Although he is not considered a typical wing player who crosses the baseline, his combination strength distinguishes him.
Bensebaini has been playing for Borussia Dortmund since 2023. After a first season characterized by injuries, he established himself as a regular player on the left defense. He still has a lot to do in terms of sport. “I feel more and more comfortable and come in shape. I want to help the team wherever I can,” he said. The fact that he never gives up combative is a matter of course for him: “If I can help aggressively, I won’t let it take it.”