In a packed cafe in Cairo, all eyes were glued to a flickering flat-screen TV, waiting for Omar Marmoush, now donning Manchester City's sky-blue jersey, to step onto the pitch.

In the 84th minute, the Egyptian forward finally jogged to the sideline, ready to make his UEFA Champions League debut against Real Madrid.

The cafe erupted with cheers and hands banging on tables, and even longtime Madrid fans joined in to celebrate one of their own.

The Spanish side ended up winning 3-2, but at the Cairo cafe, the result did not diminish the love for Marmoush.

"I came today just to see him," said Abdel Rahman Tarek, a 25-year-old fan.

"Marmoush playing in Manchester City. That is huge," he told AFP, his face beaming with pride.

While his appearance ended up being just minutes-long, Marmoush's high-profile move to City has sparked nationwide buzz.

From heated debates in cafes to trending discussions on social media, his name is being celebrated alongside Mohamed Salah's, Egypt's football megastar.

- A challenging season -

Manchester City, battling even to qualify for next season's Champions League, is banking on 26-year-old Marmoush to inject........

© Al Monitor