Omar Marmoush of Egypt played in his first game for Manchester City, and the reaction was favourable.
Marmoush was making his debut for City who beat Chelsea 3-1 at home in the Premier League on Saturday 25 January.
The 25-year-old was picked up from Eintracht Frankfurt on a four-and-a-half-year deal for a reported fee of £59 million.
Marmoush failed to score in his first game; that was left up to Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.
Right after signing for his new club, head coach Pep Guardiola named Marmoush into the starting line-up against Chelsea. He played 74 minutes before being replaced by Kevin De Bruyne. He covered plenty of ground throughout the game and displayed flares of cleverness during his time on the pitch, finding the net in the first period, only to see the offside flag up. He also showed guile, poise and confidence when on the ball.
Marmoush called his debut with Manchester City “amazing. Yeah, it was an amazing debut. It was really nice and I am really happy to be here,” he said immediately after the game. “We won the game and it was a crazy atmosphere out there. I’m so happy to be here.
“We showed a lot of desire and wanted the win. We got it, and we’re happy, but now it’s time to focus on the next games,” Marmoush said.
“Hopefully I will keep going that way. It is just the beginning and here’s to many more wins,” Marmoush added.
“He had a tough opponent,” Guardiola said after the game. “James is physically strong. He made incredible movements. The players in the middle could not see him. The players, Gundogan, Kovacic, they need to be cleverer. But they need to know each other. He played 75 minutes well because he cannot play Wednesday.”
“I still watch Bundesliga and support Dortmund of course,” Marmoush’s new teammate Haaland said after the game. “So, I’ve seen him of course. You can see that he has something special and that’s why City bought him for a lot of money. It’s going to be a really good time.”
Despite the demanding performance, Marmoush told media that he felt ready for more. “My legs are feeling good. Hopefully, it’ll keep going that way. It’s just the beginning, and I’m looking forward to many more wins,” he said.
City’s victory moved them to fourth in the Premier League table, providing a boost after recent struggles. Marmoush credited his teammates for their support.
“The guys have been great from day one, welcoming me and making me feel part of the team. We played with passion and fight, which made the difference,” he continued.
Marmoush also praised the fans’ energy. “The atmosphere was incredible from the first minute. The support from the stands gave us that extra push,” he said.
City’s win set the stage for a huge midweek Champions League visit from Club Brugge. Marmoush will not be eligible to play because of his late signing.
However, he would still root for his new team. “I’ll be at the stadium, of course. We have great players, and I’m sure they’ll get the win.”
* A version of this article appears in print in the 30 January, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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