Mary Fowler has shared an emotional message on Instagram urging her followers to show their affection for their loved ones following her decision to step away from the Matildas to focus on her mental health.
The Matildas and Manchester City star, 21, has posted another series of photos on Instagram, captioned “Tell your friends you love them” alongside pictures of him enjoying a work trip to Barcelona.
The photos included moments with his Manchester City teammates, live music, coffee and the historic architecture of Barcelona.
On his Instagram Stories, Fowler added another image with his teammates, writing: “Lots of positives to take together from 2024 onwards.” See you in a moment’, accompanied by a blue heart emoji.
Fowler’s decision to step away from international play came as a surprise to many.
“I have decided to take this time to prioritize recovery in order to refresh myself both mentally and physically, so that I can continue to give my best for both the club and the country,” he said before the friendly matches against Brazil and Taiwan. .
Fowler fights for the ball with Barcelona’s Spanish forward Claudia Pina as the Australian suffered another tough defeat.
After a difficult couple of months, Fowler shared this message to his followers on social media.
The Matildas attacking weapon remains optimistic despite not participating in recent international matches and having problems with City.
“Playing on the national team is something I never take for granted.”
‘Through past experiences, I have realized that my mind and my body are also things I should never take for granted.
“I really appreciate everyone’s support and understanding and I hope to see you all soon.”
During her break, Fowler spent time with her family and reconnected with her boyfriend, NRL star Nathan Cleary.
Cleary shared photos of the couple enjoying time together in Burleigh Heads, Queensland.
“It’s been tough, but we’ve made it work,” Cleary said at the time.
“I would love to have a family with Mary one day, but for now, we are focused on our careers.”
Upon returning to Manchester City, Fowler showed great form, scoring two goals in his first two games.
Fowler and his Manchester City teammates looked at Barcelona while traveling
The Australian star’s decision to step away from international football shocked his fans
Fowler (pictured during the defeat to Barcelona) will be a vital part of the Matildas’ future, especially with no return date set for striker and former captain Sam Kerr.
However, her team has recently faced challenges, including a historic loss to Everton and a 3-0 loss to Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League.
It could have been much worse for the WSL rivals as Barcelona rained down 30 shots from three in a hugely one-sided contest at the Olympic Stadium.
The result made City’s first-leg victory in Manchester at the beginning of October feel like a long time ago.
Speaking about the Barcelona match, City manager Gareth Taylor said: “This match will not define us.” We will learn, we will improve and we will get better.”
Fowler’s decision to take a break was supported by Football Australia chief executive James Johnson.
“Mary had a health issue that we needed to support her with,” Johnson said.
‘And we support the need for her to have a short break.
‘I think the challenge is that the international women’s football calendar is really heavy now.
“It’s great leadership for Mary to raise her hand and say, ‘I need a break and I need to fix my head and my body.'”
Matildas teammate Caitlin Foord also made a public statement of support for Fowler’s selection.
‘The game has more demands now. It is important to have networks and support for physical and mental well-being.”