Rumor Roulette: Ahly’s Quiet Winter and the Ibrahim Adel / Maieili Saga

Al Ahly Denies Interest in Ibrahim Adel and Vastone Maieili

A reliable source within Al Ahly told Kooora that circulating rumors linking Ibrahim Adel of Al Jazira and Vastone Maieili of Pyramids FC to the club are not true at all. While Adel remains a standout Egyptian talent and is a player many clubs would admire, the move to Al Ahly is not straightforward or imminent. Several hurdles stand in the way, most notably a four million dollar buyout clause in Adel’s contract and a yearly salary well above 3.5 million dollars, which the club respects and would not bypass in a whim-driven transfer window. The winter market is still unsettled, and the Danish coach appointed recently, Turup, adds another layer of complexity to any definitive plan.

The report emphasizes that these factors combine to make any concrete agreement unlikely for now, with no formal negotiations in progress to bring Adel to the Red Castle. The same source underscores that if there ever were serious talks, they would have to pass through proper channels and align with a broader strategic plan for the squad this season. The gist remains: don’t book your tickets to Cairo just yet—rumors don’t equal agreements.

The second player mentioned, Vastone Maieili, is also framed as not currently in the equation. The club respects Maieili’s abilities but notes that he is 31 years old and approaching the tail end of a prime period for a move. Combined with his contractual situation at Pyramids FC, the likelihood of an immediate transfer to Al Ahly is described as unlikely in the present moment. The article reiterates that no binding negotiations have taken place, and the club’s priorities lie elsewhere as winter deliberations unfold.

Turup Era Begins, and Transfer Strategy Is Under Review

The club officially announced the appointment of Danish coach Yess Turup to take charge for two and a half years, with a salary package of 250 thousand euros per month and a staff of five assistants. Adil Mustafa remains part of the coaching setup, while the interim coach Emad Al-Nahhas reportedly declined a role as assistant for the youth sector and instead pursued a position with another club in the region. This reshuffle signals a more centralized approach to decision-making and a careful, measured plan for the upcoming winter window.

The article notes that Turup’s mandate includes eventual oversight of the squad building, with management signaling that the process will be collaborative and grounded in a clear reporting line. Mahmoud El Khatib, the club president, held a lengthy meeting with Turup to lay out operational details and to confirm there would be a single point of contact for the coach: Walid Salah El-Din, the director of football operations, who will coordinate with the planning committee led by Mokhtar Mokhtar and, among others, Zakaria Nassif and Mohammed Youssef, the sporting director. The aim is to ensure Turup’s needs are met and that the club’s resources are deployed efficiently.

The club’s leadership stressed that there is flexibility in the transfer plan, but any new signings will come after a thorough assessment of the winter slate. The timing was framed as: there is space to finalize the picture after the upcoming Egyptian Super Cup, which is staged outside the country, before the club commits to specific players.

Files Pending

The source confirms that the winter transfer files are to be managed in conjunction with Turup, with Walid Salah al-Din preparing the speculative list of players with the understanding that the coach will have the final say on who joins. The leadership also highlighted that they have time to finalize the strategy in the period following the Super Cup in the UAE, meaning several key decisions could be postponed until after that fixture.

New Meetings

Turup conducted another round of discussions with Walid Salah Din and Adel Mustafa, gaining a deeper briefing on the squad’s current state and the players expected to travel to Rwanda for the CAF African Champions League tie against Eagle Noir. Turup also reviewed injury updates and the anticipated return dates of several players to understand the breadth of options available for selection in the near term.

Trip to Burundi

Ahead of the CAF Champions League, Al Ahly’s delegation is set to travel to Burundi by private jet for the away leg against Eagle Noir in the Round of 32. The team plans to depart in the days leading up to the tie, with Dr. Mohammed Shoukhy, a board member, leading the delegation in what will be his final act before not seeking re-election. Eagle Noir earned their place in the Round of 32 by overcoming TeleSoc Djibouti in the previous round, signaling a stern test for the Egyptian giants.

In short, the club’s management is signaling patience and due diligence rather than knee-jerk signings. The air is thick with cautious optimism as the new coaching regime settles in and the winter plan starts to take shape. Rumors may be loud, but the truth here is simply: not yet, not confirmed, and certainly not rushed.

Punchline 1: If transfer rumors paid salaries, Ahly would be living in a five-star hotel called “Conditional Offers.”
Punchline 2: And if buyout clauses were free kicks, Ibrahim Adel would already be playing on the roof of the stadium, signing autographs for the wind.