Youssef Belammari Injury Scare Disrupts Al Ahly's Pre-Season Plans

Al Ahly’s pre-season took an early jolt on Wednesday after Moroccan winger Youssef Belammari suffered a knee sprain during a friendly against Spanish side Badalona at the municipal “Bosc de Tosca” stadium.

The match is part of the Red Devils’ build-up for the new campaign, a summer camp designed to reset after a barren, bruising season. Instead, it delivered a fresh worry.

Al Ahly announced through their official channels that Belammari was taken straight to hospital for medical examinations and X-rays. The medical team will use those tests to determine the extent of the knee damage and decide how long the 26-year-old will be out of training and competitive action.

For now, the club is waiting on clarity. The scans are expected to reveal whether the sprain is relatively minor or if Belammari faces a lengthy spell of treatment and rehabilitation before he can return to the pitch.

It is an unwelcome concern at a delicate moment. Al Ahly are trying to rebuild confidence and structure after a season in which they failed to land a single major trophy, either in domestic competitions or on the continental stage. The margin for error in their preparations felt slim even before this setback.

Belammari joined Al Ahly in January on a three-and-a-half-year deal from Raja Casablanca, brought in as part of a mid-season refresh to inject energy and creativity into the squad. Now the club must wait to find out whether one of their key winter investments will be fully fit when the real tests of the new season begin.