At 21 years old, Omar El Hilali is already a key player for RCD Espanyol. The full-back, a consistent starter and one of the team’sstandout players this season, is having a great season. This has attracted attention in the football world, linking him to several top clubs, including Barcelona, Espanyol’s rival. He has mentioned in the past that Barcelona tried to sign him twice before, always receiving a “no” in response. In an interview, the Espanyol academy graduate discussed various topics, from his experience of Ramadan to the rumors connecting him with FC Barcelona.
“Very good, very eager,” he replies about his current mood. During Ramadan, he has had to adjust his training routine: “During the day we don’t eat, from sunrise to sunset. We cannot eat or drink. But Ramadan is not just that, it is something much more specific, more concrete. The only thing I have done is change my routine, do what I used to do during the day at night and try, when I get back from training, to rest to recover sleep hours.”
Regarding the team, El Hilali makes it clear that the incident of the suspended match against Villarreal has not affected the locker room. “We are fine, convinced that we could win the match. And we are still convinced. It has not affected us, now we are focused on Girona.” And about the match against Girona, he denies any desire for revenge for what happened in the first leg: “We see it as just another match, which we have to win and that will lead us to move further away from the bottom places and closer to the team in front.”
The Espanyol full-back also spoke about his development as a footballer. “It may be my best moment professionally. It is true that I haven’t been playing professionally for long (laughs). You have to keep your feet on the ground. Football, as it goes up, it comes down again. I have to keep working, keep improving in the things I can do better and, from there, beat the opponent in front of me.” And although he has already made his mark with brilliant defensive performances against players like Vinicius, Nico Williams, or Berenguer, he admits that the rivals who have impressed him the most are Rodrygo and Nico Williams.
Asked about his change in profile, from an attacking full-back to a strong defender, Omar El Hilali is clear: “Last year, when I started playing with Luis García, he insisted a lot on the defensive level. As they say, a defense has to defend. And then attack. It is true that in today’s football full-backs are usually very offensive. But I like to, first, sweep my area, defend, and if I can project myself in attack, much better.”
About his future, El Hilali responds with the maturity of a veteran. “I have to keep my feet on the ground. The day you play three bad games they will say that nobody wants you anymore. We know how the world of football is. Things come to you, but you don’t pay much attention to them.” And regarding the rumors linking him with FC Barcelona, he stays on script: “This news has reached me through friends, who send it to you and so on. Just as nothing has reached me from this, neither have others that have come out. Everything that arrives, those who have to assess it are my agents because that is their job. And, from there, what has to happen will happen at that moment.” And regarding whether he sees his entire career with Espanyol, he is sincere: “I would like to continue my entire career at Espanyol, but it is clear that football is often not how one would like it to be. It changes very quickly. Would I like to? Yes. What is going to happen? I don’t know.”
He also addressed the contract situation of Javi Puado and Joan García, two of Espanyol’s most sought-after players. “I see him as if he had a contract here until 2035. He is super involved with the team. We do not talk about this topic in the locker room, we are all going for one goal.” About the goalkeeper, he admits that his level does not surprise him: “I saw him in the youth team already, when I was a second-year cadet. Then it is true that he had the knee injury, which slowed him down a bit, but he came back like a beast. And we are already seeing what he is giving to the team.”
Regarding national teams, El Hilali confesses that he dreams of representing Morocco, although he is aware of the fierce competition in his position. “I really want to be able to go. It is true that two of the best full-backs in the world are precisely in my position. They can put me as a center-back or winger (laughs).”
Finally, he also had time to joke about his clash with Vitor Roque in the match against Betis. “It was a clash that happened at that moment, it stayed there and I didn’t give it any more thought, sincerely. I didn’t even remember, my friends sent it to me this week, but I didn’t even remember what happened. And I didn’t care if he went to Palmeiras or if he stayed at Betis.”