Mounir El Hamdaoui has reflected on his first few weeks of life at Malaga and on swapping clubs with Joaquin Sanchez.
The striker has moved across to Malaga this summer in an initial season-long loan deal, after an unsuccessful year in Italy with Fiorentina.
“Malaga is a very nice place, the team is very talented and we seem to have a really good Coach,” El Hamdaoui told AS today.
“The day I made my debut against Sevilla was very special. It was a good game for the fans. One team scored and then the other!
“We got a point, which wasn’t bad. We deserved to win the three points, but it is true that Sevilla could have won also.”
The Moroccan international moved across to La Rosaleda during a summer that saw Joaquin Sanchez move in the opposite direction in a separate deal.
“He is a very nice guy, he’s very nice. Funny. He’s doing great there. Also, I have his No 7. He had to choose between that and ‘11’ and stayed with his.
“What did he tell me of Malaga? Only good things! That there are very good people within the club, the fans are really good. He told me that it would be fine, really.
“But I had already decided to come before talking to him! I had spoken with Vicente Casado [Malaga’s CEO] and Coach Bernd Schuster. I had a good feeling so I decided to come.
“What stands out about Malaga? Everything! The club is very organised. The team works well in defence and we have good attackers. We have to try and play well and to win games.
“I could not highlight one particular player at the moment over another. I rate everyone. And here I am happy because I have been welcomed. I got a very good reception.”
El Hamdaoui’s debut against Sevilla ended curiously after the game.
“Something ‘fun’ happened? Nothing funny (smiles). I had to pass the drugs test. I was a long time and…nothing (meaning he couldn’t urinate).
“I had to drink three litres of water and there was nothing, because all the water in my body had left me.”
The player eventually returned to Malaga by car alongside communications director Angel Rodriguez.
