Omar Mascarell, a Spanish-born Equatorial Guinea international, has embarked on a remarkable football journey that has taken him from the youth ranks at Derby County to the footballing heights of the Champions League and beyond. Currently playing for Mallorca in Saudi Arabia, Mascarell credits his formative years at Derby County as pivotal in shaping the player he is today. His career, marked by significant achievements, reflects the profound impact of his early experiences. Notably, Mascarell made his top-flight debut under Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid over a decade ago and has since experienced a transformative career trajectory.
Mascarell's stint at Derby County was characterized by rapid growth and adaptation. He was thrust into the challenging environment of the Championship, where he was forced to mature quickly. Under the mentorship of supportive teammates like Jeff Hendrick, Mascarell developed both physically and mentally. Recalling his time at Derby, he expressed gratitude for the club's role in his development.
"I was lucky that I joined a very good club. They put me with a teacher from the first moment to learn English as quickly as possible. I also had very good team-mates who helped a lot." – Omar Mascarell
Hendrick, in particular, left a lasting impression on Mascarell.
"Jeff Hendrick," he says with a smile. "He was always there for me, even when I did not speak English. He took me to his home and tried to help me improve every day. Really, he is a great person. I remember him with a big heart. I am still in contact sometimes." – Omar Mascarell
Reflecting on the differences between Spain and England, Mascarell appreciated the physical demands of English football.
"We played together in the middle and I learned a lot. I had been at Real Madrid where everything was with the ball, more tactical. When I arrived in England it was so physical. The ball would go one way and then the other, it was a lot faster." – Omar Mascarell
Adapting to life in England also presented its challenges, from cultural differences to the stark contrast in weather.
"I just remember it being dark at four o'clock in the afternoon," – Omar Mascarell
"I am in Mallorca right now and it is 18 degrees and sunny in January but I am originally from the Canary Islands and the weather there is even better than here in Mallorca. So it was a big difference for me. I was very young, all alone and I did not speak any English." – Omar Mascarell
Mascarell's international career with Equatorial Guinea represents another chapter of transformation. Eligible through his grandfather, he embraced this opportunity later in his career.
"I was in contact with them for a long time. In recent years, I was thinking about whether to do it or not. I had a friend on the staff who told me it would be a great thing for me. I was 31 and decided it was now or never. It was one of the best decisions of my career." – Omar Mascarell
His experiences in Africa have broadened his perspective on life and football.
"It has been a whole other experience for me, totally different to what I live every day here. For me, it is very important as a person to be in Africa, seeing how people live there. It is special. It took me a long time to decide but I thank God that I said yes." – Omar Mascarell
Mascarell's club career continued to flourish with significant achievements. He won the cup in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt and competed in the Champions League with Schalke. His memorable 4-2 victory with Schalke against rivals Borussia Dortmund remains etched in his memory.
Currently, Mascarell is playing for Mallorca in Saudi Arabia while preparing for an exciting challenge in the Spanish Super Cup against his former club Real Madrid.
"We cannot wait," says Mascarell. "We are playing against Real Madrid, one of the biggest clubs in the world. We know that it is difficult but it is a big opportunity for us, a big chance for us to play for a trophy. And we know we do have our chance to win." – Omar Mascarell
The tactical flexibility offered by Mallorca's formations has allowed Mascarell to play with more freedom.
"We had a great game then. For sure, we have a chance. They have great players but if they want to beat us they will have to play well because we are going to fight and give it everything," – Omar Mascarell
Mascarell values the camaraderie within his team at Mallorca.
"I do not know if we will win or not but we are like a family. We are together." – Omar Mascarell
Off the field, Mascarell cherishes his experiences with Equatorial Guinea, particularly their qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations set to take place in Morocco this December.
"When I was out there and we had the celebrations and when you see just one country united, the happiness that is there, we were like heroes. It was amazing. We will be in Morocco, so we are very happy about that. I think we can do something good there." – Omar Mascarell
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