An Al Ahly chief has pulled the curtain back on why they were unable to sign Gaston Sirino.
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The Uruguayan is arguably one of the best imports ever to grace the Premier Soccer League.
The attacking midfielder has won a total of 11 trophies since arriving on South African shores, making 205 appearances, scoring 42 goals and providing 46 assists in all competitions for clubs in this region of the continent.
He is now a Kaizer Chiefs player, but most of his success came during his time with Mamelodi Sundowns, specifically under Pitso Mosimane.
The three-time CAF Champions League-winning head coach seemingly got the best out of the skilful attacking midfielder because, under the Kagiso native, Sirino played 99 matches, scored 24 goals and provided 29 assists.
It perhaps came as no surprise, then, that when Mosimane made the move to Al Ahly, he wanted his trusted playmaker to also join him in the Egyptian capital.
Club of the Century CEO Amir Tawfik has now revealed that the trophy-laden South African tactician tried to bring Sirino to the Cairo International Stadium but hit a major stumbling block.
Tawfik also revealed that it was the ex-Bafana Bafana boss who also advocated that the club recruit Percy Tau and Mozambique international Luis Miquissone instead of a Moroccan international the club were looking to sign.
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"Pitso Mosimane preferred to sign Percy Tau and Luis Miquissone over Sofiane Rahimi, as the Moroccan player was not the first choice of the South African coach, and there were no negotiations with Youssef Belaili before, and Sirino was rejected for sale by Mamelodi Sundowns," the Ahly chief said during a recent television appearance, as per Cairo24.
