Ali Mahmoud says returning to Al Ahly after leaving the club’s youth system years ago has been one of the most significant moments of his football career.
The midfielder has rejoined the Egyptian giants from Enppi and described his return to the Cairo club as an opportunity he once thought was unlikely to come.
Mahmoud admitted that leaving Al Ahly as a youngster had been disappointing, but said he never expected to receive another chance to represent the club.
“Thank God, God has blessed me and I was able to return to Al-Ahly again, which made me very happy.”
The midfielder said the move became possible after Dr Essam Serag El-Din, head of Al Ahly’s contracts sector, approached him about a potential return.
Mahmoud initially found the proposal difficult to believe, but talks progressed before Enppi’s management gave him their support to pursue the move.
His return marks a new stage in a career that has included playing in different environments and dealing with the pressures that come with professional football.
Mahmoud describes emotional return
Mahmoud said the significance of returning to Al Ahly only became real when he finally put on the club’s shirt again.
“Until I wore the club’s jersey, I couldn’t believe that I had actually returned. At that moment, I felt that it had become a reality, and it was an exceptional moment for me.”
The midfielder believes his time away from Al Ahly has also helped him develop as a player.
His previous experiences, including his spell with Enppi, exposed him to different matches, stadiums and pressures, which he believes have strengthened his character.
Mahmoud said those experiences have helped him become calmer when dealing with difficult situations on the pitch.
His return to Al Ahly will also require him to adapt to the tactical and technical demands of a team that regularly faces opponents defending in compact formations.
He said there is a noticeable difference between his previous footballing experience and playing for Al Ahly, particularly because of the organisation within the squad.
According to Mahmoud, that structure allows players to concentrate more closely on technical details, including finding space in crowded areas and operating between the lines.
Those qualities are particularly important at Al Ahly because many of the club’s opponents adopt a defensive approach when facing the Egyptian giants.
Al Ahly targets every trophy
Mahmoud has already identified two major ambitions following his return to the club.
The first is to earn a place in the Egyptian national team. The second is to help Al Ahly win every competition in which they participate.
“One of my personal goals is to be with the Egyptian national team, but with Al Ahly our goal is to win every championship we participate in, and this is what the club’s fans deserve.”
The midfielder’s comments underline the expectations surrounding players at Al Ahly, where competing for trophies is regarded as a central objective.
Mahmoud also praised the team’s preparations during their training camp in Spain.
He credited football director Wael Gomaa and Hussein Ammouta with creating a positive environment for the squad during the camp.
The midfielder said the preparation period gave the players an opportunity to work extensively on technical and tactical aspects of their game.
The camp is part of Al Ahly’s preparations for the new season, with the Egyptian club also scheduled to face Spanish giants Barcelona in a friendly match.
Mahmoud ready for Barcelona challenge
The upcoming meeting with Barcelona will provide Al Ahly with a high-profile test, but Mahmoud insists his side will approach the match with the same ambition it brings to every other fixture.
“Barcelona is a great team, but we also play for Al-Ahly Club, and in any match we play, our goal is to win, and we do not look at the name of the opponent, whether it is Barcelona or any other team.”
For Mahmoud, the match will be another opportunity to demonstrate his readiness for life back at Al Ahly.
After years away from the club, the midfielder has returned with greater experience and a clear set of objectives.
His immediate challenge will be to establish himself within the squad and contribute to Al Ahly’s pursuit of trophies, while continuing to work towards his personal ambition of earning a place in the Egypt national team.
The return also gives Mahmoud the chance to complete a journey that began when he was part of Al Ahly’s youth setup and ended with him leaving the club at a young age.
Now back in the red shirt, he says the opportunity feels like a dream that has finally become reality.
