Gaston Sirino's potential move to Al Ahly in the balance

by Bertin Basson

Tuesday Dec 01, 2020. 11:13

Gaston Sirino’s potential move to Al Ahly remains in the balance.

The Uruguayan midfielder continues to be linked with a move to the Caf Champions League champions where he would link up with former Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane.

Mosimane’s arrival in Cairo has seemingly intensified the Red Devils’ interest in the 29-year-old who recently signed a new long-term deal at Chloorkop.

According to KickOff.com, Al Ahly have already had an official R15 million offer for Sirino’s services rejected by the Brazilians. This was followed by a second bid of around R34 million, which is said to still be short of Sundowns’ R45 million asking price.

Despite Al Ahly’s attempts to sign Sirino, it seems increasingly unlikely that a deal will happen despite the playmaker’s desire to leave the South African champions, with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) transfer window having shut on Monday evening.

“I do not have the final details about the negotiations with Sirino,” Al Ahly director of football Sayed Abdel-Hafiz said on Friday, following Al Ahly’s 2-1 win over Zamalek in the Caf Champions League final.

“The file is currently in the hands of the Head of Transfers, Amir Tawfik. It is possible to delay the negotiations with him for another period, this is very possible, and it is also possible that we don’t sign him at all.”

Sirino has played an integral role in Sundowns’ success over the last few seasons and scored 13 goals — assisting a further 10 — in 41 appearances across all competitions last season as the Tshwane club claimed a domestic treble.