Zamalek chairman Mortada Mansour confirmed Mahmoud Kahraba will remain at the Cairo club, ending speculation over the Egypt forward's future following his season-long loan stint at Saudi side Ittihad Jeddah. Kahraba, 23, has been the subject of immense speculation during the past month following a superb season at the Saudi giants, where he scored a total of 18 goals in 24 games in all competitions. Reports were rife that Ittihad wished to extend Kahraba's loan deal, with the Egyptian himself making it clear his priority was to play abroad. But after Zamalek chief Mansour had on Wednesday set the record straight that Kahraba was going nowhere, the outspoken chairman confirmed that the ex-Enppi forward will be among the club's ranks next season. “We held a meeting with Kahraba during those past few hours and we've agreed upon him staying at the club,” Mansour was quoted as saying by Zamalek's official website on Friday. Early in May, Mansour announced that he would only send Kahraba on a season-long loan in return of $5million, setting a $15million price tag on the player's head for a permanent switch. Two weeks later, Kahraba – whose five-year deal with Zamalek expires 2020 - stated that Ittihad wanted to extend his loan for another season, while claiming he received offers from European sides to join in the summer. After explicitly expressing his wish to either head to Europe or extend his loan at Ittihad, Kahraba hoped Zamalek would lower their demands to let him go. Board member Ahmed Mortada, however, was quick to reply saying that Zamalek were not ready to accept a sum less than the previously announced in return for Kahraba's services. And with reports indicating that Ittihad Jeddah were only willing to pay $3million to have the Egyptian on loan for another season, a deal with the Saudi side seemed like it would never go through. Kahraba, who helped Zamalek to the domestic double in his first season after joining from Enppi in 2015, moved to Jeddah on loan in the summer of 2016 in return for $1,200,000. Zamalek, who are currently vying in the Champions League group stage, still have the Egypt Cup to compete for after losing the league title to arch-rivals Ahly. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
