"The truth is, I didn't even think about it" - Espanyol defender Omar El Hilali admits he rejected offer to join Barcelona twice
Espanyol defender Omar El Hilali has said that he rejected Barcelona's offer to sign him twice. The 21-year-old full-back has impressed at the lower levels with the Catalan side. He played 61 games for their B team and got a promotion to the first team.
In the 2023-24 season, he was instrumental in the club returning to the highest tier of Spanish football, as he played 36 LaLiga2 games. He has continued those impressive performances this season, playing nine games and helping the club drive up the LaLiga table to 14th place.
His talent was recognized by Barcelona early on, who were set to swoop in and snatch him up from Espanyol in his younger years. In a conversation with Cadena SER, Omar El Hilali revealed (via Tribal Football):
"Yes, it's true that I had an offer from Barca before coming to the Espanyol youth academy and then in the cadets before moving to the youth team. But both times, the truth is, I didn't even think about it. My heart is perico. 100x100.... 1000x1000. If Espanyol offers me a lifetime contract, I will stay here forever."
Espanyol are working on staying up in LaLiga by the end of this season, and they will be pleased to have an exciting youngster in El Hilali to help their cause. While they sit in the mid-table, their Catalan neighbors Barcelona sit at the very top of the league table.
Hansi Flick pleased with Barcelona's attacking trident after 3-0 win over Alaves
Hansi Flick praised Barcelona's impressive attacking trident after their 3-0 win in LaLiga over Deportivo Alaves. Robert Lewandowski was the best player, scoring all three goals within 32 minutes at the Mendizorroza on October 6.
Speaking about the striker's impressive performances, alongside Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, Hansi Flick said during the press conference (via Barca Universal):
“We haven’t worked on the chemistry. Of course, we’ve worked on the connection, it’s normal. In every training session, game… the dynamic they have is incredible. Fantastic. That they score so many goals is fantastic. That connection is good."
Flick spoke about Lewandowski in particular, telling the press:
“Everyone supported him and looked for his passes. He’s the same player I met in Munich, the only one I know, and in the penalty area, he’s the best. He’s always ready to score.”
The Barcelona manager has led the Blaugrana to the top of the table, winning eight of their nine league games this season. They have also been the best-scoring team, racking up an impressive 28 goals in those nine games. Lewandowski has scored 10 of those and provided two assists.