Al Ahly have no plans to bring Mohamed Abdel Moneim back to the club during the current summer transfer window, according to a source at the Egyptian side.
The defender, who plays for French club OGC Nice, has not been included in Al Ahly’s immediate recruitment plans, with the club not seeking to strengthen its central-defensive options.
The decision comes despite Abdel Moneim’s status as a former Al Ahly player who developed through the club’s system.
An Al Ahly source told WinWin that the club have not considered making an approach for the defender and have not opened negotiations over a potential return.
The source said: “Abdel Moneim would be an asset to any team he joins, but there are several reasons that hinder the idea of signing him or even considering adding him. The first is that his French club, Nice , would demand a very large sum of money to let him go, which we would not pay under any circumstances at the moment.”
Transfer Fee and Salary Limit Cited
The source said the financial demands likely to be involved in any deal were a major factor in Al Ahly’s position.
Nice would be expected to seek a significant transfer fee for Abdel Moneim, and Al Ahly are not prepared to meet such a valuation during the current window.
The club are also working under a revised approach to player contracts, with the football administration setting an annual limit of 30m Egyptian pounds for salaries and overall contractual payments.
That limit is understood to include all elements of a player’s agreement.
According to the source, Abdel Moneim’s current contract in France is substantially higher than the amount Al Ahly are prepared to offer, making an agreement unlikely even if the club had decided to pursue him.
The defender’s return has therefore not moved beyond speculation, with Al Ahly neither planning negotiations nor identifying central defence as an area requiring immediate reinforcements.
Ammouta’s Priorities Elsewhere
New Al Ahly technical director Hussein Ammouta has not requested a new centre-back, according to the source.
Instead, his priorities are said to be a centre-forward, a defensive midfielder and a left-sided winger.
Al Ahly are seeking to sign one or two foreign strikers, as well as an overseas defensive midfielder, as they prepare for the new season.
The club are also working on bringing back former midfielder Akram Tawfik, who currently plays for Al-Shamal in Qatar.
Al Ahly have already completed the signing procedures for Enppi duo Ali Mahmoud and Aktai Abdullah. Both players passed medical examinations and signed their contracts.
Ammouta is expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday evening, where he will be formally presented to the media before taking charge of preparations for the forthcoming campaign.
For now, Al Ahly’s summer business is expected to remain focused on other areas of the squad, with a return for Abdel Moneim not under consideration.
