Ahly striker Wessam Abou Ali apologizes for misconduct amid MLS transfer talks - Egyptian Football
Abou Ali, 26, expressed remorse for his recent conduct after pushing for a move away from the Cairo-based club, citing personal pressures and emotional toll.
وسام أبو علي 🗣 يعتذر للنادي وجماهيره ومجلس إدارته ويؤكد شرف لأي لاعب ارتداء قميص الأهلي.🦅 pic.twitter.com/bInrtQo8ic — النادي الأهلي (@AlAhly) July 21, 2025
"I apologize to Ahly fans, President Mahmoud El-Khatib, and everyone at the club," Abou Ali said in a statement on the club's website.
"Things escalated too quickly, and I lost control. I bear full responsibility," he added.
The striker's apology follows mounting tensions surrounding his future. After a standout performance at the FIFA Club World Cup, where he scored a hat-trick in a dramatic 4-4 draw with FC Porto, Abou Ali made it clear he wanted to leave, urging the club to accept a transfer offer.
Linked with Gulf sides Al-Rayyan and Al-Wasl, as well as MLS outfits New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew, Abou Ali's situation turned contentious when he missed pre-season training, citing injury. He was subsequently fined by the club and excluded from Ahly's training camp squad in Tunisia.
The Palestinian Football Association intervened last week, issuing a statement urging Ahly to respect the player's wishes and facilitate a move abroad, only to retract it a few hours later by removing the statement from their official channels.
Despite initially valuing the player at $10 million and declaring him not for sale, Ahly is now reportedly prepared to accept Columbus Crew's $7.5 million bid, plus $1.5 million in performance-based add-ons and a 15 percent resale clause.
Abou Ali joined Ahly from Sweden's IK Sirius in January 2024 and made an immediate impact, scoring 18 goals in 19 matches to win the Egyptian Premier League Golden Boot in his debut half-season. Although injuries disrupted his follow-up campaign, he still finished with 10 goals in 16 league appearances, second only to teammate Emam Ashour.
The striker's contract with Ahly runs until 2029, but both parties now appear ready to part ways.
"Whether the deal goes through or not, I am grateful to Ahly. This club made me a star, gave me a platform, and took me to the Club World Cup," Abou Ali said.
A formal agreement with Columbus Crew is expected in the coming days.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
10 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Handball: Egypt U-19 outclass South Korea 47-27 in World Championship opener - Omni sports
Egypt's U-19 handball team started their IHF World Championship campaign in style after defeating South Korea 47-27 in the competition's opener in Cairo on Wednesday. The hosts dominated from the outset, taking a 20-12 lead into halftime before extending their advantage with a one-sided second half to seal a 20-goal win. Egypt are drawn in Group G alongside Bahrain and Japan. They will face Bahrain on Thursday as they look to secure early qualification for the main round. The U-19 World Championship is being held in Egypt from August 6 to 17. A vibrant opening ceremony was held before the match, celebrating Egypt's cultural heritage with artistic and musical performances that delighted the attending delegations. The event was attended by Egypt's Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi, IHF President Hassan Moustafa, senior officials from the International Handball Federation, and members of the Egyptian Handball Federation board. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
11 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Ahly winger Reda Slim joins Moroccan side AS FAR on loan - Egyptian Football
Ahly's Moroccan winger Reda Slim has returned to his former club AS FAR on loan, the Moroccan side confirmed on Wednesday. The 25-year-old joined Ahly in the summer of 2023 from AS FAR but struggled to make an impact due to recurring injuries that kept him sidelined for much of the season. He made 44 appearances for the Egyptian giants, scoring five goals and providing three assists. Slim was excluded from Ahly's list in January to make space for the arrival of Serbian striker Nejc Gradisar, as the club had reached the maximum quota of five foreign players. Ahly's current foreign contingent includes Moroccan duo Achraf Dari and Achraf Bencharki, Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng, and Tunisian international Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
12 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Zamalek coach Ferrera unfazed by negative friendly results ahead of new season - Egyptian Football
Zamalek's new coach Yannick Ferrera remained calm over the team's poor results in pre-season friendlies, emphasizing that the outcomes are not important at this stage of preparation. The White Knights played six friendly matches as they geared up for the new season but their performances were underwhelming. They suffered defeats to newly promoted Wadi Degla (1-0) and second-tier side Proxy (3-1), raising doubts about the team's prospects ahead of the league opener on Friday 8 August. Zamalek are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, finishing third in the Egyptian Premier League and exiting in the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup. 'I am not worried about the team's results in friendly games,' Ferrera told a news conference on Wednesday. 'Fans should not be worried either, as we are trying to implement new tactics that require time.' The Belgian coach, who took charge in early July, said he needed more time to properly prepare the squad. 'I have been in charge for only four weeks, while the usual preparation phase is six weeks. I hoped for more time, but that's the same for all teams.' 'Things will not change overnight, but I promise we will fight fiercely in every game and learn from our mistakes.' 'It's impossible to start the season at 100%, but we will do our best to reach the right form as quickly as possible.' On the nine new signings this summer, the 44-year-old said it was too early to assess their abilities and stressed that the media are not the place for player evaluations. Ferrera also said he had no new information on Ceramica Cleopatra, who host Zamalek in the league opener in Suez, but noted he had studied many of their games last season. 'We are at the start of the season, so my knowledge of Ceramica Cleopatra is from last season. They are a good team, but we are determined to make a strong start,' he concluded. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
