Egyptian midfielder Islam Mohareb regrets leaving Al Ahly on permanent deal

Egyptian international Islam Mohareb says he regrets leaving Tala’ea El-Gaish after joining Islam Mohareb.

Mohareb spent two seasons with the Cairo giants after joining from Smouha in 2017. He remained at the club until 2019 before leaving on a permanent transfer to El Gouna.

The Egyptian winger has now disclosed that Al Ahly president Mahmoud El Khatib and then football director Sayed Abdel Hafeez had advised him against leaving the club permanently.

According to Mohareb, the two Al Ahly officials believed that a loan move would have been a better option and would have allowed him to continue his development while remaining under contract with the club.

“Mahmoud El Khatib and Sayed Abdel Hafeez advised me to go on loan. They told me that a loan would be better than me leaving Al Ahly permanently,” Mohareb said in televised remarks on ON E.

However, the player admitted that he did not follow their advice and instead chose to leave the club permanently.

“At the time, I didn’t take the advice, and I decided to leave Al Ahly permanently. Then I regretted the decision,” he added.

Mohareb acknowledged that, with hindsight, he wishes he had listened to the advice given to him by the Al Ahly officials.

“I wish I had listened to what Captain Mahmoud El Khatib said,” he continued.

The revelation offers an insight into a decision that Mohareb now believes could have changed the direction of his career. His departure brought an end to his spell with one of Egypt’s biggest clubs, with the player subsequently continuing his career away from the Red Castle.

Mohareb’s comments also highlight the importance of decisions made by young players when determining whether to leave a major club permanently or seek regular playing time elsewhere through a loan move.