Al Ahly beat Spanish second-tier side to sign Mahmoud Salah, says Ghazl El Mahalla president

Ghazl El Mahalla president Waleed Khalil says Mahmoud Salah turned down the chance to join a Spanish second-division club owned by Lionel Messi before completing his move to Al Ahly.

Salah, who came through Ghazl El Mahalla’s academy, joined Al Ahly during the previous summer transfer window. Khalil said the Egyptian club faced competition from both Zamalek and CD Eldense, but the player ultimately made clear that he wanted to remain in Egypt.

“Mahmoud Salah is a son of the club and one of the graduates of Ghazl El Mahalla’s youth sector. There are also several players following the same path,” Khalil told Modern.

He said Zamalek had attempted to sign Salah while John Edward was the club’s sporting director, but the negotiations could not be completed because of a registration ban.

“Zamalek asked to sign Mahmoud Salah when John Edward was the former sporting director, but because of the registration ban, the negotiations did not reach completion,” Khalil said.

Khalil added that CD Eldense, the Spanish club owned by Argentina international Lionel Messi, had also made an offer for the teenager.

“Salah also received an offer from a Spanish club owned by the Argentine Lionel Messi, Eldense, which plays in the second division,” he said.

“I held a video meeting with them and everything was agreed, but the player himself received strong inducements from Al Ahly.”

Messi acquired CD Eldense, who compete in Spain’s second tier, last month.

Khalil said Ghazl El Mahalla had tried to persuade Salah that moving to Spain would be the better option for his development, but the player’s preference settled the matter.

“Mahmoud expressed his desire to move to Al Ahly, despite our attempts to convince him that playing professionally in Spain would be better,” he said.

“In the end, the player’s wishes decided his move to Al Ahly.”

The 18-year-old spent last season with Ghazl El Mahalla, making 28 appearances, scoring four goals and providing three assists.

He is currently with the Egypt Under-20 team managed by Wael Riad, which is preparing to compete in the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana next February.

Salah was named the best player at the Under-20 North Africa tournament, held in Ismailia in October 2026.

Previous reports said he signed a five-year contract with Al Ahly in a deal worth £35m, paid in two instalments, plus £10m in add-ons. Ghazl El Mahalla are also understood to retain a 25% share of any future sale of the player.