Samu on tough spell: “The nightmare’s over, I couldn’t watch Spain” | OneFootball

Samu Aghehowa, FC Porto’s Spanish forward, opened up about his recovery from the serious injury he suffered in February in an interview with El Larguero. At 22, he spoke about the pain of missing the 2026 World Cup, the support he received during his time out, and his gradual return to the pitch. Now, with the worst behind him, he assured: “this nightmare is over now.”

The striker suffered a sprain to his right knee, with a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, on the eve of a clássico against Sporting. At a time when he is returning to competition step by step, Samu Aghehowa did not hide how hard the road has been, but he delivered a message marked by relief, gratitude, and confidence.

The period away was especially difficult when Spain took to the field at the World Cup. At first, Samu could not bring himself to watch the matches, before finding the strength to follow the tournament from Portugal.

“I couldn’t watch the matches. Not being there was very hard. From Portugal, I was finally able to watch the games. Thank God, this nightmare is over now,” he said. “The important thing is that I feel like a footballer again and I’m enjoying what I love most. You have to take the right steps so there are no complications. I feel even better than before. I’m grateful to FC Porto’s medical staff and to my family.”

The account shows the emotional weight of the injury, but also the caution that comes with this stage. The desire to return at full strength does not erase the need to respect every step of the recovery process.

Missing the World Cup became even more painful because it was a long-held goal. The Spaniard revealed that he had been chasing that dream since playing for Granada’s reserve team and acknowledged that the injury interrupted a season that had been going very well.

“When I was in Granada’s reserve team, playing at the 2026 World Cup was a goal I set for myself,” he explained. “Losing it like this was very difficult. It was shaping up to be a very positive season.”

The World Cup was not, therefore, a last-minute ambition. It was a target set long before Samu established himself at FC Porto, where he had scored 47 goals in 77 matches, and before becoming an asset for Luis de la Fuente.

Even while sidelined, the forward felt he had not been forgotten by the Spain coach. Luis de la Fuente’s calls and the invitation to attend the World Cup final in New York were received as signs of closeness during a delicate period.

“I’m grateful to him for caring about me. He called a few times. It’s a gesture you appreciate. They invited me to attend the World Cup final in New York. I wasn’t expecting it,” he recalled. “I was at a training camp with FC Porto in England. The fact that they showed that kind of affection says a lot about the federation. Without thinking twice, I said yes and, a few days later, I went. It was very beautiful.”

The gesture strengthened Samu’s connection to the Spanish national team at a time when the forward was unable to fight for the goal he had set himself on the pitch. More than a call-up, it was confirmation that he remained in the plans and in the thoughts of the setup.

His return to competition would eventually come on a stage of the highest demands: the clássico against Benfica, which FC Porto won 3-1 at the Dragão. After the nightmare and the long wait, Samu felt like a footballer again, still with caution, but once more back in the game.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.