Egypt defender Hani Said may not be able to return to Zamalek after Maqassa said they wanted to sign a player from the Cairo giants in an exchange deal.

Said joined Maqassa this summer after his contract with Zamalek expired but made no secret of his desire to make an immediate return to the White Knights following the arrival of new coach Hassan Shehata.

He was expected to join Zamalek on a season-long loan but Maqassa are now likely to pull the plug on negotiations.

“Finalizing Said’s loan became hard as Maqassa insist on getting a player Zamalek instead,” Zamalek’s assistant coach Ismail Youssef told Ahram Online.

 “(Maqassa coach Tarek) Yehia expressed his interest in midfielder Ashour El-Adham but he moved to Gouna.

“Ahmed El-Merghany refused to join Maqassa and we are sticking with Sabry Rahil,” added Youssef, who is acting as the spokesman of Zamalek’s technical staff.

Said  played for Egyptian sides Ahly, Ismaily, Masry and Zamalek. He also spent seven years in Italy with Bari, Messina, Fiorentina and Mons.

The 31-year-old was part of Egypt’s African Cup of Nations winning squads in 2008 and 2010 under Shehata.

Shehata reportedly demanded that Zamalek re-sign Said as he seeks to field him as a sweeper in a traditional 3-5-2 formation, which he usually favors.

Zamalek had already signed Said’s namesake Hani Said from Masry.