Injured Mohamed Salah said he will do “everything possible” to rejoin Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Salah, 31, returned to Liverpool and began his rehabilitation for his hamstring injury.
He injured his hamstring in Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana.
“Yesterday I started the treatment and rehabilitation program, and I will do everything possible to be ready as soon as possible and return to the national team as was agreed upon from the beginning,” he wrote on his social media accounts.
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Salah claps back at critics
However, some critics questioned Salah’s decision to return to England for treatment.
Some fans and former players said the Pharoahs’ captain should have remained with the squad.
“I still love it and love its people. Try harder,” Salah said.
Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas Issa defended the Liverpool star from his detractors on his X account (formerly Twitter).
“The same individuals and ‘influencers’ who get weak in the knees when they happen to bump into Mohamed in person and beg for ‘follows’ or selfies, tried to [capitalize] on an unfortunate injury and questioned Mohamed’s commitment to his country.”
“They did this looking for fame, clicks, and ‘likes’. I want to thank those who did the honorable thing and pointed out how ridiculous and cheap that was. I took names. In both cases.”
“Most importantly, to the vast majority of you, who support Mohamed, my message to you is not to worry, because your global icon, the one you helped create, is already too big to be brought down by social media.
“No hyperventilating or foaming-in-the-mouth ‘influencer’ is going to change that.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp assured that Salah will return to AFCON if he recovers in time and when Egypt reaches the final.