CAIRO: Reports that Al-Ahly's star midfielder Mohamed Abu-Trika will be sent on loan to Ahli Dubai Club for two seasons are unfounded, Adel Al-Keie, marketing manager of Egypt's Al-Ahly Club, told Daily News Egypt in a phone interview. Hady Khashaba, general coordinator and former defender in Ahly concurred, telling yallakora.com that Ahli Dubai has not made a formal bid for Abu-Trika and that any talk of loan agreement is just verbal. Yet media reports have stated that Ahly was given two offers by Al Ahli Dubai, one worth $3 million for a full season, and the other offering ?5-6 million to buy Abu-Trika. Abdel Hamid Hassan, the general football supervisor of Ahli Dubai, said that his club has been in serious negotiations with Ahly over their star player. He believes that Abu-Trika will have a great impact on Ahli Dubai, especially in the coming period since the club will participate in the FIFA Club World Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates next December. A decision concerning the possible transfer is imminent since Abu-Trika, who was on Umrah, has arrived on Friday. Many officials at Ahly support and respect Abu-Trika's alleged willingness to make the move, despite being aware of the negative effect that might have on Ahly's performance. Hossam Al-Badry, Ahly's technical manager, believes the transfer would be a reward for what Abu-Trika has offered the club throughout the past years. Al-Badry's says that the club will need to compensate by buying Petrojet Club player Waleed Soliman.
