Egypt international Mohamed Abdelmonem opened up about his recent move to OGC Nice during his introductory press conference.
Abdelmonem completed a €4.20m, plus €1 million as add-ons, from Al Ahly to OGC Nice in August to become the latest Egyptian to play in Europe.
The 25-year-old didn’t wait long to make his debut after coming on against Angers in a 4-1 win to help Nice earn their first win of the season.
Having pulled out of international duty to try and adapt to life in France, Nice officially presented Abdelmonem to the media, where Egyptian handball player Marwa Eid, who also plays for Nice, took charge of translation duty.
“I received a lot of European offers, but I chose Nice because of the communication with the manager and his belief in my abilities,” Abdelmonem said.
“My ambition is to compete for the league and the Europa League with Nice. This club has helped many players achieve their dreams and move to top European clubs. I have received excellent treatment since I arrived.
“I played for one of the biggest clubs in Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East. Everyone loved me at Al Ahly, and I am proud to be a product of the club. Nice will have a lot of Egyptian supporters.”
Addressing the challenge of playing in Europe, Abdelmonem stated: “I have played in tough conditions before, so I am used to it. I am ready to play anywhere in defense as instructed by the manager, and I actually started my football journey as a striker.
“I’m proud to be the first Egyptian to play for OGC Nice, and I will do my best.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming derby against Marseille, Abdelmonem noted, “We know we’ll be playing without our fans, but we will do our best to come back from Marseille with a win.
“We understand how important this game is for Nice fans,” Abdelmonem concluded by mentioning that he is starting to learn French.
Nice is set to face rivals Nice is set to face Marseille in the South Coast Derby at the Orange Vélodrome Stadium on Saturday, September 14.
