Zamalek and Merreikh have finally reached an agreement over the anticipated winter transfer of Essam el-Hadari to the Sudanese side, says the Egypt goalie. Both clubs worked out the details of the deal on Saturday and it's expected to go through in the immediate future. Merreikh will obtain the services of el-Hadari on a permanent basis for $700,000, according to the local media on Sunday. The 37-year-older goalie was handed a four-month ban, which ends in February 2011, and a hefty fine for illegally annulling his contract with Ahly in 2008 to join Swiss side Sion. El-Hadari mentioned on his website that he would become a naturalised Sudanese citizen in order to be able to seal his move to Merreikh. The rules of the Sudan Football Association (SFA) prohibit top-flight teams from signing foreign keepers. However, agent Mohamed Shiha stressed that el-Hadari would complete the swoop without acquiring Sudanese nationality. When asked about how the signing will be completed under the SFA regulations, Shiha told Modern TV: "According to the law, this is not allowed, but we will manage to finalise the deal. "Merreikh Chairman Gamal Al-Wali's relationship with officials in Sudan is great and that should help us find a loophole." Shiha revealed that el-Hadari didn't want to be a naturalised Sudanese because of his 'political ambitions'. "He wants to get involved in politics in Egypt after his retirement. He plans to run in the People's Assembly elections one day," he explained. "This prevents him from taking another nationality." Citizens with dual nationality cannot participate in Egypt's parliamentary elections.
