Allegations surrounding Emam Ashour’s recent absence from Al-Ahly have been clarified by Egyptian media, with new details pointing to internal dissatisfaction rather than the rumours that circulated in recent days.
Television presenter Khaled El-Ghandour said the claims linking Ashour’s absence to travel for filming pranks were unfounded, describing them as “illogical talk” that should not be taken seriously.
Speaking on his programme “Stadium of the Axis”, El-Ghandour outlined what he described as the deeper reasons behind the player’s situation.
According to El-Ghandour, Ashour has been struggling with growing frustration linked to Al-Ahly’s contract structure.
He explained that the midfielder became unsettled after players who joined the club after him, including Ben Sharqi and Trezeguet, were handed higher salaries.
He also pointed to the club’s deal with Zizo, reportedly worth 80 million pounds and including a car and advertising commitments, while Ashour’s own commercial opportunities declined despite being one of the team’s standout performers.
El-Ghandour said Ashour had signed a four-year contract worth 14 million pounds per season as a fixed amount following an unsuccessful spell abroad, at a time when Al-Ahly were viewed as his “savior.”
However, the presenter claimed the player was later shocked by the financial disparities, which had a significant psychological impact, particularly after the penalty kick incident in the Wadi Degla match and Zizo being named man of the match.
He added: “Emam shone in the Africa Cup of Nations and started to be on the radar of big clubs, and the player continues to be sad because of his contract. Al-Ahly club started talking to Imam and telling him, ‘We will raise your contract and make you equal to El-Shenawy, but don’t worry about Zizo because he came from Zamalek for free, and also Trezeguet because he was getting big numbers abroad.’”
El-Ghandour went on to reveal what he described as the emotional turning point for the player.
“The player broke down and cried bitterly in the car on his way home after the Degla match in the league, and revealed to those close to him that Al-Ahly was ignoring his contract crisis at Al-Ahly,” he said.
This episode came shortly before Ashour missed the squad’s trip to Tanzania to face Young Africans, a development that fuelled speculation about his health.
The presenter concluded by stating that Ashour later contacted football director Walid Salah El-Din and accepted the disciplinary sanction imposed on him, amounting to one and a half million pounds.
He added that the player then issued an official apology through his Instagram account.
