Ismaily’s Ahmed Ali refuted reports suggesting that he is on the verge of finalising a move to Ahly.

The combative striker has been recently linked with a move to the Cairo giants, who are struggling for efficiency upfront despite signing two frontmen in the close season in El-Sayed Hamdi and Brazilian Fabio Junior.

“Those reports are totally untrue. No Ahly official spoke to me about that possibility,” Ali said in an interview with Ahram El-Reyady magazine.

“Unfortunately, some journalists and media men have fabricated quotes for me in which I supposedly said I would refuse to play against Ahly because I would join them.

“I swear I have never asked Ismaily board to allow me to join Ahly. I will not cause any problems with the club and I intend to see out my contract which runs out at the end of next season,” he added.

Ali has struggled to recapture his form since returning to Ismaily in the summer after spending a six-month loan spell at Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal.

He has only managed to score one goal in Ismaily’s first six Egyptian Premier League games.

The 25-year-old also said he had no contact with Zamalek, Ahly’s arch-rivals.

“Anyway, I will not leave without Ismaily’s approval. I fully respect that club,” Ali added.

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