"We train in 45-degree heat!": In Baghdad, Toulon's Habib Oueslati discovers a completely different kind of football

" We train in 45-degree heat! It was tough when I first arrived, but it's okay, I've adapted!" After three years in Cyprus, Habib Oueslati (Toulon) joined Iraq and the Baghdad-based club Al-Talaba in September. He is fourth in the league with just a few games left and still in the cup competition.

A surprising choice, even for the midfielder trained in Lyon and Angers. "I was looking for a project and an agent called me: Al-Talaba was looking for a number 10. When you hear "Iraq" in France, you're a little scared. But a Tunisian friend who had been playing there for three years told me there was no problem. In the capital, there's everything you need: shopping centers, restaurants... The people are very welcoming, even if their culture is different. On the other hand, we already took a nine-hour bus ride to go and play on the other side of the country and there, you see the police, the army..."

A gateway to the Gulf?

And what about football? The Toulon player admits that the level fluctuates between Ligue 2 and National 2. This skilled dribbler, however, confesses his frustration at playing in a team that isn't offensive-minded enough for his liking (1 goal in 24 matches). "In Cyprus, they play with the ball, there are one-on-ones. Here, it's very physical – I've actually been able to develop this aspect – and the Iraqis run a lot. The defenses are compact, and when you take out a player, there's always a second, a third... It's complicated."

In terms of enthusiasm? "There are very large stadiums, but we play in front of 10,000 to 15,000 spectators. There are many more for other clubs, like Zakho or al-Shorta. The fans are passionate," says the Tunisian international among the youth ranks.

Habib Oueslati, who lives in the hotel with other players (including the short-lived Toulon player Louis Pahama), is a little homesick for his wife, who has continued to live there. He doesn't know if he'll stay in Iraq, which will remain a "good experience on a human level." "In Asia, other doors open up, especially in the Gulf countries. Maybe not Saudi Arabia, but Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates... We'll see."