Aissa Mandi has encountered his first significant setback since retiring from international football, after being left on the bench for Levante’s past two La Liga matches.

The defender had started each of the club’s opening six league games, but watched the entire 3-3 draw with Sevilla and the 1-1 draw away to Deportivo La Coruna from the substitutes’ bench.

Levante manager Luis Castro selected Adrian de la Fuente alongside young defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe in central defence for both fixtures. The consecutive omissions represent an unexpected challenge for Mandi, who joined the club to provide experience and leadership.

His international retirement, announced three months ago after 12 years with Algeria, was expected to allow him to focus fully on what was described as the final stage of his club career. Instead, the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winner has quickly found himself competing to regain his place.

The situation contrasts sharply with Mandi’s final season at Lille. Despite Algeria’s difficult World Cup campaign, he enjoyed an outstanding club season and was voted Lille’s player of the year by supporters.

Mandi left Lille when his contract expired and joined Levante on a free transfer on a two-year deal. The move brought him back to a league he knows well, following previous spells with Real Betis and Villarreal.

Now approaching his 35th birthday, Mandi could have been preparing for another Champions League campaign with Lille. Instead, he is involved in a relegation battle with Levante, who are currently 17th in La Liga.

The prospect of a player with his experience gradually finishing his career in the anonymity of the lower reaches of the Spanish top flight would be a disappointing outcome, particularly given the level he demonstrated for Lille only a few months ago.

Speaking on the Kampo podcast after announcing his international retirement, Mandi said criticism had never affected him and had not influenced his decision to leave Algeria.

“I have always received criticism,” he said, adding that professionals had to learn to take a step back from it.

His current circumstances provide another test of that approach. No longer required to travel or deal with the pressure associated with international football, Mandi should theoretically have more time to recover and work towards reclaiming his position.

This first difficult period at Levante will be closely watched. Mandi has made more than 200 La Liga appearances and possesses a level of experience few of his rivals can match.

Algeria supporters, who could be demanding of him during his international career, have not forgotten their former captain and record appearance-holder. His retirement has also left the national team facing a major rebuilding task in defence.

Mandi’s response to this latest challenge will determine whether his European career can regain momentum or gradually fade from view.