Samu Omorodion (Mellilla, 2004) He recalled in an interview with EFE how he experienced the transfer market last summer. After winning the Olympic gold, he trained “away” with Atlético de Madrid and, after a move to Chelsea that fell through, came Porto. “It was very complicated, I had a very bad time, many nights of crying…” he said.
The player knows very well what it feels like to go through hardships. His mother came to Melilla from Nigeria, pregnant with him, looking for a better life. “My childhood was quite difficult,” the footballer told EFE. “Many times my mom doesn’t have money for me to train and we have to walk, sometimes we don’t have anything to eat… It’s hard.” A story that had a happy ending, where Samu was able to ‘reward’ his mother: “I fired her from work last year. And I’ve also bought him a house so he can enjoy what he couldn’t in the past,” he reveals.
Question: Seven goals in seven games. He quickly adapted to Porto…
Answer: I’m happy with how the season started. I have arrived at a club and a team where I fit my qualities. An offensive team that wants to play football. In the best club in Portugal, where we will fight for titles.
Q: What is your assessment of the Portuguese league?
A: It’s true that people still paint the Portuguese league as, I don’t know, with all due respect, Primera RFEF. But there are high-level players, for whom many millions are paid, and there are teams with a high level. It is obviously not the Spanish league, but it should not be underestimated.
Q: Millions were also paid for you. This is a strong bet from the club. Why did you decide on Porto?
A: Yes from the first minute you can see their interest in me. The president went to Madrid to sign me and told me he wouldn’t leave there without signing me. This is what a player needs, to show confidence. Thanks to the president and the club for the promise they made for me.
Q: How do you remember your summer? His name was heard in the market, his signing for Chelsea was taken for granted – with his teammates making an aisle for him to celebrate it in training at the Olympic Games -…
A: Because gold is less bitter. But it was a very complicated summer. When I was in Madrid, the weather was very bad. In the end, thank God everything went well. If the Chelsea thing didn’t work out it was for a reason and in the end everything worked out.
Q: Why did you have a bad time?
A: There – at Atlético de Madrid – I trained separately. I was not a participant, not like a footballer. I practiced and my head told me no. I had a bad time. Many nights of crying… my family and my mother had a very bad time… In the end, thank God, everything was closed quickly and I made the best decision.
Q: Did Atlético de Madrid not give you any explanations as to why you were not with them?
A: No. No one spoke to me and I had no one to talk to. I am still an Atlético de Madrid player, I have to train and perform. I already know the position of the club. These are the things that happen in football and make you gain experience and learn for the future.
Q: Talk about the experience. 14 months ago he made his debut in the elite after playing in the Second RFEF. How do you assimilate everything that happened to you?
A: Time passes quickly, many things. I talk about it with my friends… Sometimes you don’t assimilate and when you don’t work out, you forget everything you’ve been through and we don’t really appreciate where we are. And you always have to thank God, be thankful and appreciate every minute where we are and I’m living a dream. I can live and enjoy what I have dreamed of since I was little.
Q: You talk a lot about your family. This is a great support. His mother -Edith- had a hard time. He came to Melilla from Nigeria. The Williams brothers talked a lot about the hardships they faced when they were young. What memories do you have from your childhood?
A: Many footballers who come from our background have suffered a lot. My childhood was not easy, it was quite difficult. My mother had to take care of me and my brother. She has said it, many times when she didn’t even have enough money for me to go to training and we have to walk, sometimes we don’t eat enough… It’s hard. I remember it and I was excited. All those sacrifices have been rewarded. I know the time will come when my mother will be proud of me and all the efforts she made for us will be rewarded.
Q: He’s in the elite, with a good contract… Now it’s up to you to help him…
A: Thank God and I got him fired last year. And I have also bought him a house so he can enjoy what he didn’t enjoy before. I am very happy because everything I gave him fell short of what he did.
Q: You went through the Sevilla youth academy, AD Nervión… What were the beginnings in football?
A: When I was young, I was interested in playing soccer. My godfather, may he rest in peace, signed me up for my first football club in Seville, a neighborhood club called Inter Cuatro and that’s where I took my first steps. From there I went to another club, also in Seville, Don Bosco. And when I was seven or eight years old I went to the Sevilla youth academy, I was there for three years. As a junior I was in AD Nervión, I was there for six years, I became a soccer player and from there I played for Granada. I was there for two seasons and things went very well. I always say, no matter what happens, I will always be grateful to Granada, because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.
Q: Who is your childhood idol?
A: I really liked Samuel Eto’o. And I see myself somewhat reflected in him. I wish I had at least half the career he had.
Q: Santi Denia said when he gave the list that he had to bring out the best in you with the Spanish team. How is this adaptation process?
A: Santi is a close coach of mine. I have to thank him because he had a lot of trust in me all along. I’m very calm. Being here is always an honor. In the end, good footballers adapt to all contexts and I try to adapt to the national team.
Q: Mateo Joseph did an interview, he said that you are doing well and he beat you in EA FC 25 (formerly FIFA)… Against Kazakhstan he scored a hat trick, against Malta it will be your turn to ‘respond’, right?
A: Well, in the end it’s not about answering. Everyone is doing their job. Yesterday he scored three goals and I am very happy for him. I have a very good relationship with him and I am always happy with all the good things that happen to him. And FIFA… there are times when I beat him and there are times when he beats him (he joked).
Q: With your seven goals in seven games, your name has been heard a lot by the senior team. Do you know Luis de la Fuente’s list?
A: I wasn’t very attentive, if I’m honest. My family and friends are more supportive. In the end, I was very calm. I know that sooner or later my chance will come. The senior team has high-level forwards and if Luis de la Fuente made the decision then it was for a reason. Now it’s time to continue working for the next call-ups and if not, the U-21, which is also hard to come by.
Q: You watch a lot of football. Which forwards do you want to improve?
A: It’s true that I’m a bit of a geek. I watch a lot of football, I don’t watch anything else, really (laughs). In the end, you will look at all the good things going forward; not just one. I try to take something from all the great forwards and always try to learn a lot and ‘copy’ some things they do.
Q: The last one. There are many complaints about the number of games on the football calendar. Now he is also playing in European competition -in the Champions League-. What is your opinion?
A: Look, now that I play in Europe for the first time… ‘phew’… I get it. I only played League and Cup last year and I was fine. But now you play Wednesday-Sunday, with some recovery days, the cups… Many games. We are not robots, we need to rest. People think that two days rest is enough for us, but every game demands a lot from you and you have to recover properly. It is normal that there are many injured. If you look at the calendars of every team that plays in European competition, we play 60 games… it’s unbelievable. It’s complicated. And the truth is, I don’t have to say anything, but the solution won’t hurt. EFE
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(Archive resources at www.lafototeca.com code 22193130 and others)
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
