Haras El-Hodoud forward Ahmed Eid Abdel-Malek (Photo: Abdel-Hamid Eid)
Zamalek is unsuccessful in its first attempt at luring a high profile player to strengthen the squad ahead of the new season's kick off on 1 February.
The Cairo giants have decided to end talks with Haras El-Hodoud forward Ahmed Eid Abdel-Malek, after failing to reach an agreement.
“We permanently closed the file of signing Abdel-Malek as we cannot meet his high demands. We offered him LE1 million for the first six months, then LE2.5 million in the next season and then LE3 million in his last, but he wanted LE3 million for each season,” Zamalek assistant coach told Al-Ahram Sport on Monday.
The 32-year-old player, whose contract expires in June 2013, has been courted by Zamalek since last summer, but a deal hasn’t been reached due to local competition having been suspended following the Port Said Stadium disaster in February 2012 that left 72 dead and hundreds injured.
Zamalek, which has been struggling these past few years due to a lingering financial crisis, may also see some of its key players leave the club.
According to a source that wished to remain anonymous, Al-Ahram Sport revealed that international midfielder Ibrahim Salah, striker Ahmed Gaafar and left-back Sabri Rahil refused to ink contract extensions. Their contracts are set to expire next summer.
Benin Striker Razak Omotoyossi, Burkina Faso’s Abdoulaye Cisse and Cameroon’s Alexis Mendomo are also reportedly looking for a way out due to the club's lack of action and fiscal shortage.
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