Omar El Hilali has surprised the audience with some statements that nobody at Barça expected. The Moroccan right-back has confirmed that he had had the possibility of playing for the club but rejected it to continue with the team of his life, Espanyol.
Barça has tried to sign Omar El Hilali a couple of times in the past, but the defender decided to turn down the offer, feeling that he was betraying the team he loves. He's revealed it himself: they first contacted him when he was still a youth division player, but he didn't want to betray Espanyol.
Year later, Barça tried to take him again, although this time to strengthen the reserve team. Omar El Hilali's reply was the same: no way. He is now important at Espanyol and doesn't regret having said no to his great rival.
Deco didn't Know Anything
Newspaper Madrid-Barcelona has learned that these statements by Omar El Hilali have greatly surprised the current Barça sporting director, Deco. These approaches were made when he wasn't yet in office and he was completely unaware of it.
Although Omar El Hilali is considered a good player, the truth is that Deco is not sorry at all for the well-known rejection. The Spanish-Moroccan is considered not to be good enough to play for Barça, so his "no" doesn't hurt.
If Omar El Hilali had arrived, the growth of Hector Fort, who is set to take over Barcelona's right wing in the coming years, would probably have been cut short or paused.
Omar El Hilali will Never Play for Barça
He rejected Barça on two occasions, but there won't be a third one. Even though these statements didn't please Deco, the truth is that Omar El Hilali's name is not in the list of possible future players.
He isn't sufficiently qualified to wear the Barça jersey and has been completely ruled out. Deco is analyzing various names on the market to be able to reinforce the sides if it is considered necessary, but none of them is Omar El Hilali.