CAIRO: Ahly backed down on signing Moroccan striker Abdessallam Benjelloun as they intend to register Algerian sensation Amir Sayoud. Benjelloun was set to move to Cairo from Scottish side Hibernian this week, but it seems that Sayoud, dubbed the "New Messi , has been favored over the former. The deal (with Benjelloun) has been cancelled, Ahly board member Khaled Mortagi was quoted as saying by BBC Sport. We have a young Algerian player called Amir Sayoud and we consider him the young Messi. From a technical point of view, Sayoud is much better for the team. It has nothing to do with Benjelloun; he s a great player. But the team needs Sayoud more for the coming season. Sayoud, 20, impressed for Ahly in pre-season, particularly in a friendly against Arab Contractors, after signing on a free transfer last month. Ahly already have Angolan wide man Felisberto Sebastião de Graca Amaral (Gilberto) in their possible-three slots for foreigners as they are close to signing Liberian striker Francis Doe.
