I ignored huge offers to stay with Al Ahly – Mohamed El Shenawy

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday Aug 20, 2024. 09:55

Al Ahly captain Mohamed El Shenawy has revealed that he ignored huge offers to remain with Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly.

The goalkeeper started his career at Al Ahly, but spent the years from 2009 to 2016 away from the club. He then returned in 2016 and has been with the Red Eagles ever since, winning multiple honours across the Egyptian Premier League, the CAF Champions League and more.

“I received offers amounting EGP 500m during the past three seasons but I decided to stay at Ahly despite being paid less than 20 percent of what I could have earned elsewhere. Al Ahly is the club of my life, and I am forever grateful for everything they have done for me,” El Shenawy stated.

This was especially clear during the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, when Al Ahly released a statement praising their captain’s loyalty after turning down a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr.

El Shenawy has again linked with a move away from the club after struggling for game time last season due to shoulder injury.

The veteran goalkeeper lost his starting place to Mostafa Shobeir, who played a key role in the club’s CAF Champions League defence.

“After my injury, the coach informed me that I needed time to regain my form and that Shobeir would be relied upon during the final stages of the CAF Champions League. I accepted this decision and I was on the bench during both legs of the final,” explained El Shenawy.

Coach Marcel Koller decided to use both El Shenawy and Shobeir during the final stages of the league campaign, but he handed El Shenawy the most difficult encounters.

The 36-year-old goalkeeper hopes to solidify his position as the undisputed number one for the team ahead of the new season.

El Shenawy added, “I have been sidelined for more than four months, which affected my form, but now I am back and I have already started preparing for the new season to be fit and ready.”