Zamalek ask Ahmed Abdel Rahim ‘Isho’ to reconsider financial terms of new contract

Zamalek are seeking an agreement with Ahmed Abdel Rahim ‘Isho’ to amend some of the financial terms in his new contract, according to a club source.

The player renewed his deal after his previous agreement had been due to expire at the end of last season. However, Zamalek’s football department believes the financial conditions included in the renewal contract are excessive.

A club source told FilGoal: “The football department saw that the financial terms in Ahmed Abdel Rahim ‘Isho’s’ renewal contract were excessive.”

The source added: “Zamalek gave the player the choice between reducing the financial value or retrieving the contracts and moving to another team.”

The club has also rejected suggestions that Isho failed to attend his medical examination. The source said the medical checks had been arranged in two groups, with the player included in the second group scheduled to undergo the examination on Saturday.

Isho completed his renewal in the presence of John Edward, the club’s former sporting director. Edward resigned several days ago, and his resignation was subsequently accepted by Zamalak’s board.

The 22-year-old has made 38 appearances for Zamalek in all competitions and has scored three goals.

Zamalek’s preparations for the new season will begin on Saturday, rather than Friday, after head coach Moataz Gamal changed the start date of the training camp.

The club’s media centre said Gamal had informed the players that medical examinations would take place over Thursday and Saturday. The checks are intended to ensure that all members of the squad complete their assessments before the start of the preparations.

Zamalek said the arrangements were part of the coaching staff’s plans to make sure the players were medically and physically ready before training begins ahead of the new campaign.

The club’s board has decided to retain Gamal as head coach. He guided Zamalek to the Egyptian Premier League title last season, the 15th league championship in the club’s history.

Zamalek also accepted Edward’s resignation as sporting director and said the name of his replacement in charge of the football section would be announced soon.

The team ended last season by losing the Confederation Cup final to Algerian side USM Alger on penalties.

Zamalek will compete in five competitions during the upcoming campaign: the league, the Egyptian Cup, the Super Cup, the League Cup and the CAF Champions League.

The club will return to the Champions League for the first time in three seasons.