Nice coach Claude Puel spoke about the situation of Algerian midfielder Hicham Boudaoui, given his frequent absences from the team's matches recently.

Boyle explained in a press conference before the 25th round match against Rennes in the French league that the player is struggling to regain full fitness. He said, "Boudawi trains and then disappears for a while before returning again. We are waiting for him to commit to a regular training program so we can know when he will be ready to participate."

The French coach added that Boudawi has great potential, but he is currently facing a physical issue, which makes it difficult to rely on him regularly with the team.

Since returning from participating with the Algerian national football team in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the player has only played for 58 minutes across three matches in which he came on as a substitute. He also missed eight matches due to injury and lack of physical readiness.

Boudawi's situation raises doubts about his readiness before the upcoming training camp for the Algerian national team, which will feature friendly matches against the Guatemala national football team and the Uruguay national football team, as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

At the same time, reports indicate that the player may leave Nice during the upcoming summer transfer window, amid interest from several European clubs, including Olympique Marseille, Manchester United, and Brighton, as well as Wolfsburg and Galatasaray.