One of Jose Riveiro’s key players at Al Ahly has issued an emotional apology to the club and its supporters after attempting to force a move away from the Egyptian giants.
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Speculation has been rife over the future of star striker Wessam Abou Ali at the Cairo International Stadium. The towering Palestinian forward ended the FIFA Club World Cup with three goals, a performance that appears to have attracted significant interest in his services.
The club most heavily linked with the 26-year-old has been Major League Soccer outfit Columbus Crew. It is alleged that Abou Ali missed the start of Riveiro’s pre-season camp in an effort to push through a move to the American club.
According to Transfermarkt, the deal is now close to completion, with the Black and Gold reportedly agreeing to pay the Club of the Century €6.4 million (R131.9 million) for the striker. However, ahead of what looks to be his imminent departure, the Aalborg native has expressed regret for how the situation has unfolded.
Speaking via Al Ahly’s official social media platforms, Abou Ali said:
"I only want the love of Al-Ahly fans and the management. I have been under family pressure for some time and have done things I do not approve of because I do not approve of such behaviour from any other player.
"Al-Ahly is a great and important club, and my relationship with it has been wonderful since day one. It is the club that made me grow in football and helped me receive professional offers and become a football star. I played with it the best season and a half of my life.
"I bought a house here in Egypt and my family came to live with me here because of my love for Al-Ahly and Egypt.
"I behaved in a manner unbecoming of an Al Ahly player. I spent the best days of my life at Al Ahly, and the fans supported me during the period when I was experiencing bad luck. Al Ahly is the club that made me a star player for the Palestinian national team.
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"Things got out of hand quickly and I'm no longer able to act. I don't know what to do. But I can confirm that I do not support any person or entity that spoke out against Al-Ahly on my behalf and I have no connection to them because I am an Al-Ahly player."
