Rachid Bouaouzan’s future at NEC Nijmegen has been cast into real doubt after the on-loan Wigan winger was demoted to the Dutch club’s reserve side.
Head coach Mario Been (pictured) was forced to take strong action ahead of Wednesday’s Uefa Cup tie with Hamburg following a number of breaches of discipline by the 24-year-old.
Bouaouzan, who has played only one first team game for The Latics since a £300,000 move from Sparta Rotterdam in the summer of 2007, was removed before half time of a game against Heerenveen at the weekend and immediately left the stadium.
A poor showing in training ahead of the Uefa Cup tie has also forced Been to act for the second time this season after the winger was forced to miss the first round tie against Steaua Bucharest over problems with his attitude.
“I do not want to dwell too long on that,” said Been regarding the player’s latest indiscretion. “I prefer to look forward.
“But I will say this: I am a very disappointed manager but I had no choice.
“Nobody, I repeat nobody, is more important than the team and Rachid is not.”
It is unclear as to whether this signals the end of Bouaouzan’s NEC career as the winger has played 27 games for the Dutch club this season, scoring once and claiming two assists.