Omar El Hilali, the complicated option that FC Barcelona likes to reinforce at right back

The FC Barcelona is not only looking at Joan García, goalkeeper of RCD Espanyol, as a possible reinforcement to 'fish' from the 'perico' team. The sporting management of the culé club is also closely monitoring another player: the 21-year-old right-back, Omar El Hilali.

Recently, the sports newspaper 'SPORT' reported that the Moroccan right-back is one of the preferred candidates by Deco, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, to strengthen the position currently occupied in great form by Jules Koundé. The interest in El Hilali is based on his sporting performance, his projection, and his affordable buyout clause of 15 M€, which makes him an attractive addition to pursue.

It is important to highlight the excellent season that El Hilali is having at RCD Espanyol. Omar, whose contract with the Catalan team extends until June 30, 2027, has been one of the players with the most minutes played in the 2024-25 season under the management of Manolo González, accumulating to date 25 matches played and a total of 2,146 minutes in action, placing him behind Alex Král (2,226’) and Joan García (2,250’) in terms of playing time.

Omar El Hilali, a complicated signing for FC Barcelona

However, the interest of FC Barcelona in Omar El Hilali, who has provided a couple of assists this season, seems to be certainly complicated for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there is the fact of having to negotiate with RCD Espanyol, a historic rival of the azulgrana team that is unlikely to be willing to let one of its best players go to strengthen its rival.

Secondly, it cannot be ignored that El Hilali seems to be a 'perico' at heart and is currently not inclined to join FC Barcelona, as he expressed in an interview with 'Què t’hi jugues!' from Cadena Ser: "I told Barça 'no' twice, I didn’t even think about it." I have been a perico since I was little and this club has always caught my attention. I had offers from Barça before arriving at Espanyol and also when moving from cadets to youth, but I didn’t even think about it.".

💥❌ "I told Barça NO twice, I didn’t even think about it"

❤️ "My heart is 100% perico, a thousand percent"

📹 Omar El Hilali, player of @RCDEspanyol, at #QTJ!#RCDE pic.twitter.com/9KZC57l58M

— Què T'hi Jugues (@QueThiJugues) October 9, 2024

With this in mind, it seems unlikely that FC Barcelona will be able to sign Omar El Hilali from RCD Espanyol unless there is a drastic change in the situation. Therefore, while his development is closely monitored, the azulgrana club should consider other options to strengthen that position, such as Andrei Rațiu from Rayo Vallecano or even Daniel Muñoz from Crystal Palace.