Al Ahly manager Marcel Koller is ‘refusing’ to consider the sale of star midfielder Mohamed ‘Afsha’ Magdy amid ongoing links with Celtic in the Egypt international, according to Al Ahly News.
This time last year, Ange Postecoglou’s side secured the signing of three players – Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi – before Jools Holland even sat down at his piano on New Years’ Eve.
12 months on, two pre-Hootenanny deals have been concluded already. Alistair Johnston sealed a £3 million move after impressing for Canada at the Qatar World Cup, joining another J-League import; former Vissel Kobe centre-back Yuki Kobayashi.
Whether the talented ‘Afsha’ makes it three, however, only time will tell.
Celtic like Al Ahly’s Egypt midfielder Mohamed ‘Afsha’ Magdy
Maher Nawfal, Afsha’s representative, told Football Scotland over the weekend that there ‘has been interest from Celtic’, before adding that the midfielder’s camp will ‘take time to consider what is best for Afsha’.
Former Egypt goalkeeper-turned-reporter Ahmed Schubert, however, insists that ‘no official offer’ has yet been made.
“The truth is that Muhammad Magdy Afsha has no official offers to obtain his services from Celtic,” Schubert says.
“The management of Al-Ahly Club has not received any offers in the past few days. And what is published in this context is incorrect.”
Celtic’s interest, then, appears to be in it’s early stages. Maybe an offer will arrive at some point, but it certainly hasn’t as things stand. Al Ahly coach Koller, meanwhile, is determined to resist any potential approaches that could come his way between now and February.
Koller has reportedly told the Al Ahly bosses that Afsha remains a key part of his plans, and has asked the club not to sell under any circumstances.
Afsha, valued at around £4 million, is a stylish attacking midfielder who can also play wide on the right. He produced 10 goals and five assists as Al Ahly won the Asian Champions League title in 2021/22.
“The best player in Egypt for me is Mohamed Magdy Afsha,” former Pyramid FC coach Ante Cacic says.
“I watched his goal and watched the (Asian) Champions League final. He’s a great player who had a great influence on the match and links (play) well between the lines.
“He is a wonderful player and has a great influence on Al Ahly’s performances.”
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