Manor Solomon was introduced at Villarreal along with a few other new players as the Israeli winger was welcomed by the club with a “Bruchim Habaim” (“Welcome” in Hebrew) to get the festive press conference under way.
The La Liga outfit is just north of Valencia and south of Barcelona on the coast of Spain as the 26-year-old Solomon moved to Villarreal on loan from Tottenham in the English Premier League.
“I’m really happy to be here and at Villarreal,” the Kfar Saba native began. “As you saw, the transfer happened in the last 1-2 hours of the window and it was something I didn’t expect. I know Villarreal were interested in me, but it became really weird just in the last few hours. I can’t wait to get started and show my qualities and I’m looking forward to seeing the fans in the stadium and making them happy.”
Joining the Yellow Submarine
Solomon also spoke about what he brings to the table for his new club, the Yellow Submarine.
“I’m sorry that I don’t speak Spanish yet, but I understand. I think I’ll need a few weeks and I will speak to you guys in Spanish. I want to bring my qualities and bring my speed, dribbling, goals, assists and to contribute the best way I can. That’s also defensively and offensively, and hopefully I can bring something else, something different to the team and I hope that I can do that really soon.”
“I think knowing the language in the place you are going to play is really important and I want to speak Spanish as soon as possible. I understand, but it’s a little difficult for me to speak, but I am sure that in the next few weeks or two months I will be able to speak Spanish. I think it’s going to help me adapt if I speak the language as it’s really important here in Spain. I really like the language, in Israel we learn English but the second language is Spanish so that’s why I understand. Hopefully in the near future I’ll be able to speak it.”
With Villarreal in the Champions League and drawn in a group with Tottenham, Solomon will be facing the team that loaned him out already this coming week in London.
“It’s really crazy that I was there just 10 days ago and I was a Tottenham player, and next week on Tuesday I am going to face them with Villarreal. But that’s how the football world works – one day you’re in one place and the next you can be in a different club. I’m really happy to be here and it’s going to be a really big challenge for me and for the team in the Champions League. I’ve been here for just a few days but I think we have a great team and hopefully we can start our Champions League campaign in the right way and I hope that we can get a victory at Tottenham.”
Villarreal coach Marcelino hasn’t asked Solomon yet for a scouting report on Tottenham, but he also doesn’t think he will need one from the former Hotspur.
“I’ve spoken to the manager, but not about Tottenham. He hasn’t asked me anything about them yet, so maybe after the game against Atletico. I think he doesn’t need me as he’s a great coach and he knows better than me, so I’m sure we will be ready for the game. I’m sure it will be a really difficult game, but first we have Atletico Madrid on Saturday, which is a big game that I’m looking forward to. We have Tottenham, which will be a big challenge, but I think we have a great team, so let’s see what happens.”
Heading to Spain and La Liga is a nice stop for Solomon, as the league is one of the world’s best and has featured some of the most iconic players including Leo Messi and Ronaldo.
“It’s a new league for me and a different league than the Premier League or the other leagues in England, but it’s definitely one of the best leagues in the world as everyone watches La Liga. As a kid I always watched La Liga games including Villarreal and all the other big teams. It’s a great league and I can fit into it with the way the league plays, so I am looking forward to it.
“I’ve played in the Champions League a few times with Shakhtar Donetsk and I’ve really missed the feeling of the Champions League, and I am looking forward to playing with Villarreal in the Champions League, which is a great challenge and a great place to play. Every kid dreams of playing in La Liga and the Champions League.”
Solomon was asked about the pro-Hamas protests that had been taking place at the Vuelta cycling race, but the winger, who had heard of general protests, had not heard of that specific one.
“I don’t know and I haven’t seen it, I don’t know about this protest, but I know that there are some protests especially in Spain. I am here to play football and I’m a football player to play football and not to talk politics. I’m an Israeli. I’m a proud Israeli and I will always be a Jewish guy.”