Who is Omar Marmoush and why Manchester city paid EUR 80 million for him?

Omar Marmoush, a 25-year-old Egyptian forward, made his debut this Saturday during Manchester City's match against Chelsea in Premier League’s matchweek 23.

ALSO SEE: Who is Arina Rodionova? Former Australian Tennis star who announces divorce and will join OnlyFans

Where Was He Playing Before Joining City?

The Egyptian forward previously played for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, where he had an outstanding season, scoring 15 goals in just 17 games. Additionally, he topped the Bundesliga assist chart with 9 assists. Known for his versatility across the front line, Marmoush primarily played as a lone striker last season, netting 17 goals in all competitions. Notably, he had spent most of his time in a front-two setup prior to his farewell from Frankfurt.

German football expert Raphael Honigstein commented: "He is really dynamic, a wide forward who can play through the middle. Some people have compared him to Mohamed Salah. Perhaps not as tricky or explosive, but his finishing is incredible."

Where Will He Play in His New Team?

Although Erling Haaland is not having a season up to his usual stellar standards, he has still managed to score 23 goals and remains City’s undisputed number nine. For Marmoush, this suggests a role on the wing is the most likely option.

Manchester City has yet to properly replace Julián Álvarez, who departed for Atlético Madrid last summer. Álvarez often served as a backup striker for Haaland and filled various other attacking roles.

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone shared his insights: "Given Marmoush’s nine-and-a-half-year contract, it’s safe to say he’s not replacing Haaland. Instead, he’s likely to secure one of the wide slots.

"While Jeremy Doku and Savinho have shown flashes of brilliance, they’ve often failed to deliver the consistent penetration and goal-scoring City needs. Marmoush could be the solution for those wide positions."