Al Ahly transfer plans change as Hussein Ammouta rules out Ali Youssef deal

Hussein Ammouta has rejected the possibility of Al Ahly signing Nantes defender Ali Youssef, closing the door on a move that had attracted interest within the Egyptian club.

The decision is one of the first indications of Ammouta’s plans since he was appointed Al Ahly’s new head coach. The Moroccan has decided against pursuing a deal for the Libya international during the current summer transfer window.

Ali Youssef had welcomed the prospect of joining Al Ahly, but Ammouta is not convinced the defender is the right option to strengthen his back line. According to Moroccan website Le360 Sport, the 56-year-old coach has shown little enthusiasm for completing the transfer.

That stance has made it increasingly unlikely that Ali Youssef will wear the Al Ahly shirt this summer, despite the player’s positive attitude towards a move.

Ammouta was appointed manager of Al Ahly’s first team after the club parted company with Danish coach Jes Thorup. He will lead the Egyptian giants into a new season featuring major domestic and continental challenges.

Al Ahly are set to compete in the Egyptian Premier League, the Egypt Cup and the CAF Confederation Cup. Ammouta is now shaping the squad he believes can handle those commitments, with defensive recruitment among the areas under consideration.

The arrival of the Moroccan coach marks a new stage in an established managerial career that includes success with Morocco’s local national team and spells at several prominent Arab clubs.

Ammouta has previously managed Wydad AC in Morocco, Al Sadd in Qatar and Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates. He has also coached Jordan’s national team, adding international experience to his club record.

His work with Morocco’s local national team brought notable achievements, while his time with clubs across the region established him as one of the leading coaches in Arab football. He now faces a fresh challenge at Al Ahly, where expectations will be high both domestically and in African competition.

The decision over Ali Youssef suggests Ammouta will have a decisive role in determining which players are brought in during the summer window. For now, the Nantes defender appears to have lost his place among the club’s defensive targets after failing to win the new manager’s approval.