Ramon Marimon wants to turn Whitehawk into this theatre of dreams – after following his former defensive sidekick to England.

The new Hawks centre-back played youth team football at Espanyol with Eric Bailly, the defender who recently moved from Villarreal to Manchester United.

Marimon’s own, very similar, ambitions were thwarted by knee problems. Now, fit again, he aims to shine at the Enclosed Ground at the second attempt.

The 22-year-old from Palamos on the Costa Brava spent three days with Hawks in pre-season last year, when Asensio and Steven King were in charge. Nothing came of it but Asensio kept in touch with the player and, now in charge on his own, called him up this summer.

The Argus:

Eric Bailly signed for Manchester United this summer

Marimon told The Argus: “I was at Espanyol at the same time as Eric Bailly and we were great friends. I had two years with him in the under-17s and under-18s. We were the centre-backs.

“The players I came through with are also professionals now. I had a little problem with the knee and Espanyol ended up moving me on elsewhere.

“But that was two-and-a-half years ago. I’ve had two years at a good level in Catalonia and I don’t even think about the knee now.”

Marimon was a regular last season at Catalan outfit Manlleu in the fourth tier and his performances attracted the interest of teams from Segunda B, the regionalised third tier of Spanish football.

But he has always fancied playing in England – and was delighted to take that second chance.

Marimon, thought to be a wanted man for former Sabadell among others, said: “I had four offers from Segunda B clubs.

“But the day before I met with the one I was going to sign for, Pablo called me and I had no second thoughts. I know it is sixth tier football but, from what I know, the level of football Whitehawk play isn’t as low as the league status might say.

“It didn’t worry me coming here. I’ve wanted to play in England from a very young age.

“I love the way people live their football here, the tradition. And the style of football is very similar to mine. I know people like Danny Mills and Sergio Torres from last summer and training on Saturday was good.”

Clearly Whitehawk is potentially a stepping stone for bigger things if all goes well. Marimon makes no secret of that. But, equally, he brings the background of a player educated by a club in arguably the world’s best league.

Marimon grew up at the club, Espanyol, where Albion star Bruno spent his formative years.

The Argus:

Ramon Marimon, left of picture, and his skipper Hector Rodriguez with Espanyol B 

“I know Bruno is here in Brighton although I don’t know him personally,” he said. I’d love to meet him but let’s go a step at a time.

“Espanyol was very good for me. I had an injury and had to move on elsewhere “But the people there had a professional structure and that made life more easy “I played for Girona before that and we played in our age group against all the Catalan clubs, including Barca and Espanyol.

“Espanyol were following me for a year and they called me at the end of the season when I was 17.

“I was there for three good years.”