Rodgers reveals reason for El Karouani's departure from Al-Qadsiah: he doesn't fit our style

Brendan Rodgers, the manager of Al-Qadsiah, has revealed the reason behind Souffian El Karouani's departure from the team, despite his joining during the last summer transfer window.

Rodgers explained in the press conference ahead of the match against Al Ahly FC in the Saudi Pro League that El Karouani participated in the preparation period, as the coaching staff was keen to assess his ability to adapt to the playing style adopted within the team.

The coach said: "I still respect Souffian El Karouani, and he has been with us during the preparation period. During this time, I wanted to see how well he could adapt to the way we want to play."

He added: "The truth is that Souffian El Karouani was a traditional left-back and an excellent player, but he did not fit the style of play that we adopt in the team, so the decision was made by all of us."

Brendan Rodgers has indicated that the player's desire for regular playing time has prompted the club to seek a suitable solution, explaining: "The player wants to participate in matches, so we wanted to find a solution for him and give him the opportunity to play in an excellent team."

Souffian El Karouani has left Al-Qadsiah during the current summer transfer window to join SL Benfica.