Bodø/Glimt’s first new signing for the 2023 season was carried out on Friday morning, writes Bodø/Glimt in a press release. Omar Elabdellaoui has signed a contract that binds him to Glimt for two years. – I have been abroad for 15 years now. I have a wife and three children at home and we found out that it was time for me to come back home now, he says. Omar Elabdellaoui landed in Bodø earlier today. Photo: Marius Guttormsen / news Strong desire in the family The 30-year-old was linked to Skeid in his youth, but went to Manchester City in 2008. It was also the last time he played in Norwegian football, aside from a loan spell of 12 games for Strømsgodset in 2011 – It was a strong desire in the family. I said that I am willing to come home, but then I wanted to join the best team in Norway. Even though it’s not in Oslo, it was important for me to sign for what I feel is the best team in Norway, he says to Glimt. Bodø/Glimt fans may have a new favorite in Omar Elabdellaoui. Photo: Mats Torbergsen / Mats Torbergsen The right-back describes himself as a hard-working player, and impressively, he has already started studying Glimt’s next opponent, Lech Poznan. – Football means a lot to me, and I do everything I can at all times. I want to be as well prepared as possible for the match and take the percentages I can. – It is easier when others define me as a player, but I am a dedicated and hard-working player. I have a lot of energy and am confident with the ball. I like to be aggressive. I give one hundred percent all the time. I can promise that. – Powerful, simply Jonas Grønner in Discovery tells news that this is a strong transition for Glimt. – If someone had said this in 2019, I think they would have been hospitalized. It’s powerful, quite simply. Grønner adds: – Firstly, it is a massive transition. It shows a bit of the power relationship that Bodø/Glimt has got in Norway now. He was probably vice-captain of the A national team, but of course was sidelined by injuries. But he is a quality player of dimensions. – He is 30 years old and has never played on artificial grass. Is there a risk of injury? – It certainly is. But he hasn’t struggled much with injuries in recent years. But there is a change in profile for Bodø/Glimt. They want to have a good mix in their group with reference players. And this is definitely in that category. – It feels good Friday morning he landed in Bodø, an hour behind schedule. The flight from Oslo was delayed, but that did not stop the mood for Glimt’s new acquisition. – It feels very good. I have had plenty of time to think about what will be the next step in my career. I am very happy and very much looking forward to getting started. I am looking forward to getting to know the club, the players, the city and the people. – What is it about Glimt that makes them attractive? – No, it’s plain and simple the achievements. The way they work here. There are many good players here. There are many people I know from the national team, they get there at a high level. There is a coach with whom I have spoken a lot. It is very motivating to talk to him. He is very interested and has said what he has envisioned. Since then the list of clubs has been long. The defender has visited Feyenoord, Eintracht Braunschwieg, Olympiakos, Hull and most recently Galatasaray. He is waiting for his 50th national team game, where he has played more or less regularly since 2013. A serious eye injury has held him back since 2020, but he was back in the national team squad in September this year. Now he has signed for Bodø/Glimt, which has won a medal in the Eliteserien in the last four seasons. Once again, an adventure in Europe awaits Glimt in the New Year, when they face Polish side Lech Poznan in the UEFA Europa Conference League in February. In addition to having spoken to several of Glimt’s players, telephone calls to Kjetil Knutsen have also been decisive. – We talked about football. What values, goals and ambitions we have here. It hit me and I’m sure this is the right step for me now.
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Omar Elabdellaoui becomes a Glimt player – wanted for the best team in Norway – news Nordland
