[0:00]Omar, many congratulations and welcome to Manchester City. Can you sum up how excited you are to join this football club?
[0:08]First of all, thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure being here. I'm really excited. I can't wait to get on the pitch, meet the teammates, and start my journey with the club.
[0:21]You've made a terrific impact on the pitch over the last couple of seasons in particular. That's meant that you've been watched and and linked to many different clubs. What was it about City that made you made the move to this football club?
[0:34]City is one of the biggest clubs in the world. Over the past 10 years, of course, it's an honor that they showed the interest in me and that now I'm here. The last two years, my last two seasons were great, but it's just the beginning for me. I'm so happy to be here and for me, City is one of the biggest clubs in the world, so it was not a question.
[1:00]For some of our fans who who maybe haven't seen you play that often, can you just describe your style and and what you think your main strengths on the football pitch are?
[1:09]My main strength, I would say that I always want to win. That's from a character point of view. On the pitch, I'm fast, good on the ball. I try to see where the spaces are and try to exploit the spaces and I'm dangerous.
[1:27]From what we've seen, you can play a number of different positions on the pitch, which I'm sure was very attractive to Cheeki and Pep. Just explain to us what position you feel most comfortable in.
[1:37]Yeah, I've played many positions, and the national team I'm always playing on the left wing most of the time. And my former club, I was playing number nine and sometimes the 10. I also played on the eight, so right wing. So I think I play I can play all positions. I feel most comfortable under a striker. So in the 10 position, where I can just turn and the way to the goal is quicker or shorter, I mean. But again, I feel comfortable in all positions, and wherever I play, I will always try to give my all to help the team.
[2:15]You've spent a good few hours here at the City Football Academy. And we've got some amazing facilities. What what's your impression having spent the the day here today?
[2:24]Yeah, the facilities are amazing. I didn't get to see a lot. I think I I just finished the medical. I saw the staff. Until now are really, really nice people, and uh yeah, the facilities really, really good. Uh it's just how it is how it should be for one of the best clubs in the world.
[2:46]This must be a very special moment not just for you, but for your family as well. I mean, what's their reaction been to your move to City?
[2:53]Yeah, it's uh, it's crazy, to be honest. Uh, the whole journey I made coming from Egypt to Germany. I always dreamt of being in a club like this. And after all the hard work, all the setbacks I had, uh it's a pleasure and uh it's an honor for me and my family to be representing Man City and to be here. It's just I it makes them happy, makes me happy, that my dreams are are becoming a reality.
[3:24]Pep Guardiola is uh acknowledged as a world-class manager. He's also acknowledged as being a coach who improves footballers. For you, when you had the, you know, you were thinking about coming here, you had the opportunity to come here, that must be a thrilling prospect for a player to know that you're going to work with somebody like that.
[3:41]Of course. Uh, this was one of the big aspects also. Um, Pep is a coach that develops player, like develops players like you said, and I always find that each player always can become better, always there are some percents where you can become better, and uh I want to learn from him, take all his knowledge because he's one of the best coaches in history, I would say. Um, so it's an honor that he showed interest in me and uh got me in this team. And uh I can't wait to prove my qualities on the pitch.
[4:17]We also have one of the great number nines in world football in in Erling Haaland. Um, you're a very different player in in style to him, but you're likely to play alongside him. I mean, you must be really excited about that prospect as well.
[4:29]Yeah. Very, very excited. I mean, Erling is a is a machine, a goal machine. Uh, I'm very excited to see him, to play with him on the pitch, to learn from him also some things, and uh hopefully to assist him, like you said. Um, and uh I'm hopefully we will enjoy playing together.
[4:49]The Premier League is kind of widely recognized as being probably the strongest and uh most competitive league probably in in the world. What does it mean to you to to be able to come into this league and and experience that? Because it's it's kind of like the ultimate test for a footballer, isn't it?
[5:05]Yeah, of course. And uh since I was young, it was my dream to play in the Premier League. Um, I find that the league is very intense and it fits the style of play that I have. Um, and I'm just really, really happy to be here in this league, as you said, it's just another test for me. And uh it's just the beginning. Now my journey starts with City, and uh hopefully we'll win a lot of trophies and uh yeah, have really, really nice seasons.
[5:37]There's been quite a few players in the past who've come from the Bundesliga to the Premier League and done very, very well. It seems it's a it's a good test testing ground for for players to come to England. How quickly do you think you're going to adapt and and what challenges do you think you're going to face maybe in in English football?
[5:53]I think that's something we're going to see with time. Uh, as you said, the Bundesliga is very similar to the Premier League from the intensity. Of course, the Premier League is a is a much higher intensity, but the style of play, I would say, is similar. Um, so players coming from the German league here, um, have it easier to adapt to the style of play and the intensity. Um, I just want to get to know my teammates, get into the team, and uh know what the coach wants from each and every player, and uh just try to function within the team.
[6:26]You're the first Egyptian ever to play for Manchester City Football Club. Uh, I want to ask you how proud you are to be the first to to play for this great football club from your nation?
[6:37]Yeah, it's uh, it's a big, big honor. Uh, I'm really, really happy to be the first player to play for Man City. Um, yeah, showing what my country has, representing my country here in a club like this was something I always dreamt of and uh yeah, my dreams are becoming a reality of being the first player in Man City and uh I hope I will prove that I can keep up with this level.
[7:07]And can I ask you as well about um, back in Egypt? How much interest is there in the Premier League and, you know, I'm sure there's great excitement that you've made this move. Do do you feel that that...
[7:16]Yeah. Yeah, I feel that a lot. Uh, I mean, the past few days were a bit stressful, a lot of talk, and uh yeah, the Premier League for us in Egypt is the biggest league and it's the most followed league. Uh, of course, because of uh other teammates I have in the league, Mo Salah. Um, and a lot of other Egyptian players have played in the Premier League, so most of the players going up, our dream is to be here. And uh that's why it makes me so happy that I'm here to reach this uh beautiful league.
[7:48]Well, Omar, thank you so much. Good luck on the time here. We've got some big games coming up and we're all excited to see.
[7:56]I can't wait. I can't wait. Thank you.
