Sports reports have revealed that Portuguese coach José Gomes, manager of Saudi club Al-Fateh, is making serious moves to sign one of the top stars of Egyptian club Al-Ahly, as part of his plan to strengthen his squad during the upcoming winter transfer window. This desire stems from Al-Fateh's coaching staff's efforts to address technical weaknesses and rectify shortcomings that appeared in the team's performance during the first half of the Saudi Professional League season.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Gomez has identified Egyptian international Marwan Attia , the Al Ahly midfielder, as his primary target for the winter transfer window. Reports indicate that initial contact has been made with the player to gauge his interest. While Attia has expressed initial openness to the idea of playing professionally in the Saudi league, he has requested that the Saudi club formally and directly contact Al Ahly's management to finalize the deal, respecting his existing contract with the Cairo giants.
On the other hand, sources close to the management of Al Ahly SC stated that the current stance is leaning towards a firm rejection of the idea of letting go of Marwan Attia, whether on loan or through a permanent transfer. Al Ahly's planning committee and coaching staff are adamant about retaining the player, given his status as a key and indispensable pillar of the team, especially considering the significant challenges facing the African champions both domestically and continentally.
Marwan Attia's importance in Al Ahly's system
Marwan Attia is currently one of the most important midfielders in Egyptian and African football. Since joining Al Ahly from Al Ittihad Alexandria, he has secured a regular starting position thanks to his exceptional ball-winning abilities, excellent defensive positioning, and accurate passing under pressure. Al Ahly's coaching staff relies heavily on him to control the tempo of the game and link the lines, making replacing him mid-season virtually impossible from a tactical standpoint.
The context of transfers between the Egyptian and Saudi leagues
This news comes amidst growing Saudi interest in Egyptian players, with recent years having seen several stars like Ahmed Hegazi and Mohamed Sherif move to the Roshan League. Gomez's interest in signing Attia reflects the player's considerable technical ability and Al-Fateh's desire to attract international players with experience in major tournaments to strengthen the team's position in the league standings. However, Al-Ahly's determination to retain its star players as they compete for the CAF Champions League title and the FIFA Club World Cup remains the biggest obstacle to completing this deal.
