The following season with Brighton was filled with anticipation and promise. We had a strong squad, and I was back, fully fit and raring to go. Our aim was clear - we wanted to secure promotion to the Premier League.
One day, as I was walking back from training, I saw a familiar face. It was Hassan, my best friend from the academy back in Egypt.
"Hassan!" I exclaimed, rushing over to him. "What are you doing here?"
He grinned, a spark in his eyes, "Got scouted by West Brom. I'm here to play in the big leagues, just like you."
His words filled me with joy. Having Hassan in England was a piece of home. We were both far away from Egypt, but we were chasing our dreams, together.
Our reunion was short-lived as Hassan's team was based in a different city. But we promised to keep in touch and meet up whenever our schedules allowed.
That season, we faced West Bromwich Albion, Hassan's team. It was a surreal experience, standing on the same field, but on opposite sides. We were friends off the field, but on the field, we were rivals.
The match was intense. Both teams were vying for the top spots in the league, and every point mattered. Playing against Hassan was challenging. He knew my gameplay, my strategies. But it also pushed me to do better, to be unpredictable.
The match ended in a draw, a fair result given the fierce competition. After the match, Hassan and I met up, talking about our journey, our dreams, our challenges.
"Remember back in the academy when we used to dream about this?" Hassan asked, his eyes reflecting the floodlights.
I nodded, "Seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?"
He smiled, "And look at us now. Living our dream."
This chapter of my journey was about friendship and rivalry. It was about competing with my best friend, about pushing each other to be better. It was about cherishing our roots while reaching for the stars. We were just two boys from Egypt, making our mark in the world of football. And this was just the beginning.