An Al Ahly player has openly expressed his appreciation for new head coach Jose Riveiro, claiming he values the Spaniard’s honesty more than that of former boss Marcel Koller.
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Following the departure of Ali Maaloul and the end of Yahia Attiyat Allah’s loan spell, Al Ahly have also decided to send Karim El Debes out on loan to Cleopatra Ceramica. The move comes after the 23-year-old failed to get any minutes during the FIFA Club World Cup.
Now, the three-time Egyptian Premier League champion has revealed that he had been pushing for a loan move even before Riveiro’s appointment. According to El Debes, while Koller initially promised to grant his request, he never followed through — unlike the former Orlando Pirates mentor.
"Going out on loan was a step I needed to play more and join the national team," the left-back said in an interview with OnSport Radio.
"After the Club World Cup, I spoke with Mohamed Youssef and Riveiro about playing more regularly in the new season. It's difficult to ask a coach to guarantee playing time. Riveiro told me, 'I won't guarantee you'll play a lot of matches.' I asked him to go out on loan and he supported me.
"I asked Koller to let me go out on loan, but he refused because he said he needed me. After that, I didn't play, and he kept evading me.
“Koller told me before many matches that I would play, but I would find myself out of the lineup.”
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El Debes will now be hoping to make the most of his loan stint with as he looks to reignite his club career and push for a regular place not only with the 12-time CAF Champions League winners, but also the Egyptian national side.
