The landscape of French football witnessed a remarkable development in November 2025 with the return of N'Golo Kanté to the national team for their critical UEFA World Cup qualifiers. After nearly a year away from Les Bleus, the tireless, world-class midfielder has been recalled by head coach Didier Deschamps as France looks to consolidate its position atop Group D and book its ticket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Kanté's re-emergence is not only a testament to his enduring quality but also a strategic masterstroke by Deschamps who recognizes the unparalleled value Kanté brings to midfield both on and off the ball. This blog delves deep into Kanté's unique midfield mastery, his current form, and how his return could be the defining factor for France's World Cup qualification aspirations. The Context: France's Challenging Road to World Cup Qualification France enters the final stretch of qualifying as the leaders of UEFA Group D, with 10 points accrue...
This week, Omar El Hilali, a star for Espanyol, disclosed that he had previously turned down the club's fiercest rivals' offers in Barcelona.
For his part, defender El Hilali has so far had a successful campaign.
The youthful player, who started all but one of Espanyol's La Liga games, has actually made a name for himself as one of the first names on manager Manolo González's team sheet thanks to his position at right-back.
However, as previously mentioned, if circumstances had been somewhat different, such brilliance might have been displayed in the colors of one of the top teams in Spanish football.
El Hilali stated last week in an interview with Diario AS, which Mundo Deportivo quoted, that when he was a young player, he rejected Barcelona's offers in favor of Espanyol:
"I had the option to choose between Barça and Espanyol, and I decided on Espanyol because I felt that was the only option and because my family thought it was the best option for me—it was the athletic endeavor that I desired." And now that I am living my goal, I believe I made the right decision.
For his part, defender El Hilali has so far had a successful campaign.
The youthful player, who started all but one of Espanyol's La Liga games, has actually made a name for himself as one of the first names on manager Manolo González's team sheet thanks to his position at right-back.
However, as previously mentioned, if circumstances had been somewhat different, such brilliance might have been displayed in the colors of one of the top teams in Spanish football.
El Hilali stated last week in an interview with Diario AS, which Mundo Deportivo quoted, that when he was a young player, he rejected Barcelona's offers in favor of Espanyol:
"I had the option to choose between Barça and Espanyol, and I decided on Espanyol because I felt that was the only option and because my family thought it was the best option for me—it was the athletic endeavor that I desired." And now that I am living my goal, I believe I made the right decision.

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