Adelaide United star Karim Matmour to quit club as early as next week

ADELAIDE United’s Karim Matmour contract is about to come to an abrupt end as early as next week with the Algerian international set to announce his retirement.

Adelaide United’s Karim Matmour and Wife Manel Filali.

ADELAIDE United’s Karim Matmour contract is about to come to an abrupt end as early as next week with the Algerian international set to announce his retirement.

Matmour, 32, broke the news to his shocked Adelaide United team-mates this week. He signed with the club from Germany’s TSV 1860 Munich.

It’s understood Matmour is leaving because his wife Manel Filali is homesick.

According to sources Filali hasn’t settled in Adelaide with the couple’s twin daughters.

Matmour and his family are expected to return to Germany.

Adelaide officials confirmed Matmour was getting ready to leave the club but was still waiting for the request in writing.

The Reds did not want to comment until both parties had reached an agreement with regards to a mutual termination after the Algerian penned a one-year deal during the A-League’s off season.

Algerian-born Filali told The Advertiser in August she put her singing career on hold to let her husband enjoy the spotlight as Adelaide United’s newest signing.

“I used to travel all over the world ... but it became too difficult when we had kids,” said Filali in August.

Filali was half of German-based dance band Milk and Honey.

The 35-year-old Filali achieved success, with hit Habibi (Je t’aime) staying in the charts for 37 weeks and also reached No. 1 in the pop charts of Hungary, Czech Republic and Germany.

Matmour was set to play his last match for Adelaide against Sydney FC at Hindmarsh on Friday.

Prior to the clash Matmour played seven A-League matches for United and was involved in three FFA Cup appearances including the 2-1 final loss to Sydney FC last week.

French-born Matmour has had a fine career telling The Advertiser last month that Socceroos superstar midfielder Aaron Mooy took his midfield spot at Huddersfield in 2016.

Matmour represented Algeria 30 times including appearances at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The classy midfielder has played more than 350 matches as a professional footballer in a career which started blossoming in 2008 when he signed for Germany’s Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Bundesliga.

Originally published as Adelaide United star Karim Matmour to quit club as early as next week