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Rabat – Omar El Hilali is turning heads in Spain after putting in strong performances that have drawn interest from top clubs across Europe.
The Moroccan right-back is a product of Espanyol’s academy and only broke into the first team in January 2023. Since then, he has stood out with his solid defending and ability to play in different positions across the backline.
His talent and hard work have not gone unnoticed, with clubs like Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Brighton keeping a close eye on him. But Espanyol know they have a valuable gem in their squad, and secured his future with a contract that runs until 2027.
Despite receiving an offer from Barcelona, El Hilali made a bold decision. He chose to stay with Espanyol, believing it was the best place for him to grow. “Espanyol was the sporting project I wanted,” he told Spanish newspaper AS. “I think I was right.”
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The 21-year-old can play as a right-back, left-back, as well as a central defender. His versatile positioning and defensive skills were on full display in the recent match against Real Madrid after managed to keep Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior quiet all the game.
El Hilali has also contributed in attack, chalking up two assists this season: One against Valladolid and another against Real Madrid.
But club football is not his only focus. El Hilali is also close to a return to the Moroccan national team after excelling in the U20 and U23 levels. He was also part of the squad that won the African U23 Championship in 2023 hosted on home grounds.
Morocco has been struggling defensively due to injuries and dip in form of starting players. El Hilali is believed he could be the perfect addition to solve the backline’s woes.
One thing is clear: Omar El Hilali’s star is rising fast. Whether at Espanyol, in England, or with Morocco, the future looks bright for this young talent.
