A new star on the sultanate’s football horizon seems to be emerging with a 21 year old making history by becoming the first Omani to sign a deal with a Spanish club on Sunday.
Azan al Tamtami, a promising national Olympic U23 team player, inked a two-year deal with Spanish League top-flight club Deportivo Alaves, according to his agent Issam al Shanfari. The former Fanja player is a specialist winger, a midfielder who mans either of the two flanks.
The welcome break catapults Tamtami straight into a league that features the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luiz Suarez and Neymar.
Speaking to Muscat Daily from Spain, Shanfari said, “It is a proud moment to have a talented Omani player sign a two-year deal with Deportivo Alaves, which will play in the top-flight league in the coming season.”
Tamtami is only the second Omani footballer now to play in the highly-competitive European league. National team captain Ali al Habsi is the other player, who is playing with English Championship team, Reading.
Tamtami is only the third ever Omani player to sign a deal in Europe after Habsi and striker Imad al Hosni, who had a season with Belgian club RC Charleroi in 2010.
The Muscat-based Tamtami was playing with FC Biel-Bienne in the Swiss Challenge League, a second-tier league in Switzerland, last season.
According to Shanfari, Tamtami finished his deal with the Swiss club and impressed scouts from the Spanish club, which offered him a two-year deal.
“He has to prove his potential and it will still take time for him to play for the club as he is one of the 28 players in the squad. But I hope, the exposure and experience with a top-class La Liga (Spanish League) side will go a long way in developing him as a top professional footballer,” said Shanfari.
His move to Spain has not surprised Oman Olympic team coach Hamad al Azzani, who gave him the first break with the national team in 2014.
“He is good and speedy winger and I am happy to hear about him signing with the Spanish club. I wish him all success.
“He is young and has the potential to earn fame like Ali al Habsi as he has still plenty of years to play,” said the former national team coach.
Deportivo Alaves is an established Spanish club founded in 1921 and its biggest achievement was in 2001 when it played the final of the UEFA Cup. It had lost to Liverpool 4-5 on a golden goal.
Having played in the second division for most of the years, it clinched promotion to the top flight in May this year.
