And May 1, 2006in Sunderlandthe career of Abou Diaby It started to twist. The French midfielder, recently arrived at Arsenal and with barely 19 yearssuffered a very hard entrance of Dan Smith in added time. The result was a fracture of ankle, of thefollowed operations y eight months off the playing field. That blow deprived him of last match of the history of Highbury and, above all, the final of the ChampionsLeague before him Barcelona in it Stade of Francea few kilometers from where he had grown up.
Almost twenty years later, Diaby has reappeared in an extensive report by The Team to review a career marked by talent, Arsenal, Wenger…and the injuries. “I wasn’t even supposed to come back“, remembers about that first serious injury. From there, his time in London became a succession of returns and relapses: more than 40 injuries, almost four years of accumulated sick leave y more than 300 games lostaccording to the French newspaper.
Abou Diaby’s injuriesAlberto Rubio Garcia
Despite everything, the French He does not speak from resentment. The former French international assures that he does not live in what could have been. “I have no regrets“, he admits. His way of looking back is different: “Playing football is an opportunity. Many would have wanted to be in my place“A phrase that summarizes the serenity with which he faces the story of a career that could have been enormous, but that was affected by injuries too early.
Kind words towards Wenger
Arsene Wenger at ArsenalCHEMA REY PHOTO
He ex of the Arsenal He also left words of huge love toward Arsene Wengerthe coach who opted for him when he was able to sign for the Chelsea. Diaby remembers that Mourinho He explained that he was looking for a mediocentrobut Wenger was much more direct: if I went to Arsenal, would play. “There was no color,” he confesses. About the technician alsacianothe Frenchman assures that he owes him much more than minutes: “It gave me the opportunity to grow in the club and as a man.”
Stay with what you experienced
Diaby, who also passed through Olympic of Marseilles before retiring in 2019prefers to stay with what he experienced. with his European debut before him Real Madrid of Ronaldo, Zidane y Roberto Carlos; with the Arsenal of Cesc, Van Persie, Rosicky o Cazorla; and with a clear idea: his story was not that of the footballer who could not be, but that of someone who learned to rebuild himself every time his body told him enough.
