Strasbourg's Egyptian defender Ahmed Abou-Mosallam said that the French side was irritated by Ismaili's failure to pay the due amount of 500,000 Euros to sign Hosni Abd-Rabou permanently. Abd-Rabou, who lately announced that he signed for Ahli, has been subject to a transfer saga involving Strasbourg, Ismaili, Ahli and Zamalek, and Abou-Mosallam revealed the French side's reasons to axe Ismaili from the race. "I have spoken with one of the club's officials and he confirmed the Strasbourg's refusal to sell Abd-Rabou to Ismaili after the latter's officials failed to pay on time," Abou-Mosallam told Filgoal.com exclusively. Strasbourg chairman Philippe Ginestet was surprised and totally dismissed Ismaili president Yehia Al-Koumi's offer to pay the sum in the form of installments.
Abd-Rabou "The board was completely angry with Ismaili's actions and they decided to give Ahli or Zamalek the upper hand to sign Abd-Rabou," Abou-Mosallam added. The former Ahli winger ruled out recent claims by Al-Koumi and football director Sayed Abdul-Razek, saying that the fee was delivered and that Abd-Rabou will stay at Ismailia. "Ismaili's claims that Abd-Rabou should play for them next season are not true, I am certain he will be joining a new club soon because Strasbourg have not received his transfer fees from Ismaili," concluded Abou-Mosallam. Unlike Abou-Mosallam, Abd-Rabou failed to break into Strasbourg's starting eleven and ended up spending last season on loan to the Dervishes.