Abdelmonem Makes Training Return After ACL Recovery

Egypt international defender Mohamed Abdelmonem has spoken candidly about the mental and emotional toll of his long injury layoff, describing a period of depression as he returned to training following recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.

The Nice centre-back shared a heartfelt message on his official Instagram account after completing his first training session since sustaining the serious injury last season.

Abdelmonem admitted that the setback marked the most difficult phase of his life, affecting not only his career but also his outlook on the future.

“Today was my first day back in training after the hardest period of my life,” Abdelmonem wrote. 

“It pushed me into depression and anxiety about what was coming next. It made me see my future very differently from the way I once dreamed of it.”

Despite the struggle, the defender stressed that he never abandoned his ambition. 

He highlighted how the overwhelming support he received following the injury had a profound psychological impact, while also increasing his sense of responsibility to return stronger.

“I felt an incredible amount of love, empathy, and support when I got injured,” he said. “That affected me deeply, but it also made me feel responsible to come back and live up to their trust.”

Abdelmonem also reflected on how the experience strengthened his faith, saying it helped him feel closer to God and more at peace. 

He emphasized that while success remains important, personal faith and genuine relationships matter even more.

In a second message, the 26-year-old underlined the lessons he learned from the ordeal, stressing gratitude without conditions and the value of family, friends, and those who stand by you in difficult moments.

“I learned to be thankful without conditions,” he added. “To work hard and strive, but also to protect my real treasures, my family, my friends, and the people who truly support you.”

Abdelmonem concluded by thanking everyone who reached out with messages or prayers during his recovery, saying their presence gave deeper meaning to every positive moment and helped him through the darkest stages of his journey back to football.