For the past week I have been reading news about Sherif Abdel Fadeel's transfer from Ismaily to Zamalek, then to Ahly, to Zamalek and finally to Ahly. There seems to be no easy straight forward way for transfers to come about in the Egyptian market especially when it involves the 3 footballing superpowers, Ahly, Zamalek and Ismaily. Who can forget last years antics regarding Egyptian International Defender Hani Said? His transfer from Ismaily to Zamalek involved car chases, kidnappings and an alleged assault with a deadly weapon!!!! So by comparison this transfer saga seems smooth. My problem is not where he ended up at or why did he change his destination in the 11th hour from Zamalek to Ahly. My problem arises form the half truths and sometimes outright lies we hear from officials and individuals who are directly involved in these transfers. Did Sherif's brother really walk away from the negotiating table cause Zamalek offered L.E. 1.45m and he wanted 1.5m ? Surely Adebayor wouldn't have rejected City for £1000 a week less? And then I read some place that an expert is saying that Ahly won't be able to register Abdel Fadeel for the new season. I'd like to see this guy eat his words when he finds Sherif wearing the famous Red and White Ahly jersey next season. For once I'd like people to own up to what they say when they are proven wrong or when they make stuff up.
The deal reportedly went through for L.E 7.5m with Ahly right back Ahmed Sedeeq
going to Ismaily in a part-exchange deal. While I will be saddened to see the dedicated, ever professional flying wing back Sedeeq (I like to call "kahraba" due to his electric pace) go, it seems Ahly have done good business this time around. While in my opinion no one Egyptian player is worth L.E. 1m, let alone L.E. 7.5, but this is a discussion for another time. Abdel Fadeel is currently one of the leading Centre Backs in the country and he can also play on the right side of defense. The boy can play football and has incredible physique. He joins an Ahly team whose defense is in dire need of an upgrade. Gomaa is getting too old and while he is still a top defender his legs can't keep up with him anymore. Mohamed Samir is inexperienced and finally there is Ahmed El Sayed....well...need I say more? It remains to be seen if Sherif can prove to be the missing peace of the puzzle and honestly despite his ability the odds are stacked against him since no matter how hard you try it is almost impossible to keep a clean sheet with no goalie between the posts :P
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