Less than three hours before Wednesday’s nervy victory over Club Brugges in the Champions League, Omar Marmoush was standing on the indoor pitch at Manchester City’s training ground.
He had seen the same facilities for the first time a week earlier, gawping and smiling at what he now calls home.
He smiles a lot, Marmoush. It’s the first thing staff noticed about the £59million signing from Eintracht Frankfurt who has, over the last 11 days, shown an illuminating appreciation for this great opportunity in his career.
So, he was in the indoor dome, wearing baggy trousers, ineligible for the match against Brugges but still being put to good use.