What was supposed to be a relaxing weekend in Tehran following Iranian League action turned into a true survival movie for Munir El Haddadi, who is now out of the country after the weekend bombings carried out in that nation.

The former FC Barcelona forward, once considered an heir to La Masía's glory, managed to leave Iran safely after being trapped amid the escalating conflict and the bombings executed by Israel and the United States over Iranian territory.

Tensions reached their peak last Saturday. Munir, currently a striker for Esteghlal FC, was already aboard a plane bound for Dubai alongside his compatriot Iván Sánchez (a Sepahan SC player). However, the reality of war struck before takeoff.

"Ten minutes later they made us get off the flight and told us we had to leave the plane because the airspace had been closed," Sánchez told Cadena Ser.

In additional remarks, he said: "We were on the runway ready to leave and they told us we had to get off. A friend sent me a message saying, 'They've attacked, you're not going to make it.' You can't imagine the traffic there was. We waited in a hotel across from the airport. Security arrived and prepared a van so we could leave together," he explained.

A 16-hour escape under the shadow of missiles

With Iranian airspace completely shut down, the only escape route was by road. Munir's club provided a vehicle for a dangerous journey from the capital to the border with Turkey. It was more than a 16-hour trip by land, navigating logistical chaos and the uncertainty of a country under attack. During the escape, the players witnessed the conflict firsthand:

"We could see some missiles crashing in the sky with Iran's defenses," Iván Sánchez confessed from Istanbul airport.

"We managed to leave at seven and drove for about 16 hours. I played Parcheesi with a teammate. I slept for an hour - you can't relax, you can't sleep, I was desperate. You're constantly watching the cars," said Munir El Haddadi.

Munir El Haddadi 🇲🇦, qui évoluait à Esteghlal en Iran, a fui le pays après la guerre qui frappe le pays. 🇮🇷🛫

Il a rejoint la Turquie en voiture avant de rallier l'Espagne, montrant aux journalistes à son arrivée des images des frappes durant sa fuite. 😳 pic.twitter.com/sPpUkBMUbT

— الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز (@alhjaj_abw10188) March 1, 2026

The greatest ordeal for the players was not only the journey but also the lack of communication. Without internet access during the trip, their families in Spain experienced moments of total anguish. "For them, twelve hours without knowing anything given the situation was worse than what we went through," they added.

The destiny of a 'new Messi' far from Camp Nou

Munir El Haddadi, who scored 12 goals in 56 appearances for Barcelona and celebrated titles alongside stars like Lionel Messi, is currently in a stage of sporting maturity in the Iranian league. Although his average of 0.21 goals per match prevented him from establishing himself among Europe's elite, his quality made him a key figure for Esteghlal.

Now, the player is already back in Spain with his family and, for the moment, his sporting future remains uncertain.