Aboutrika moves to Baniyas

Aboutrika is one of Ahly's senior players Cairo - Hossam Al Sayed Egyptian striker Mohamed Aboutrika has joined Emirati club Baniyas on a six-month loan deal until the end of the season. The 34-year had initially committed his future to Ahly, and took a 50 percent pay cut to remain in Cairo. However, the club's football director Sayed Abdel Hafiz confirmed that the move has been approved by manager Hossam el-Badry. Hafiz cited two reasons behind the move: "The uncertainty surrounding the future of the league due to the circumstances that Egypt is currently experiencing," and "the revenue the club would earn from the loan." Hafiz added, "Aboutrika leaves a large gap, much like his teammates Ahmed Fathy and Mohamed Gedo Nagy who have joined English club Hull City on loan. However, the circumstances surrounding sports in Egypt have resulted in the approval of Aboutrika's departure." Ahly is one of several clubs struggling in Egypt, due to the postponement of the domestic league after the Post Said Stadium disaster. "The next few weeks give us a great opportunity to promote young players to bolster the ranks of the top teams. In addition, the club has opened talks with four players about renewing their contracts beyond the end of this season." Al-Ahly's agreement to let three of its top players go indicates that the league is likely to be postponed again or cancelled for the rest of the season. Manager el-Badry had repeatedly insisted that he would not allow "key players" to leave, unless the league is cancelled, on the condition that they would return to the club ahead of the CAF Champions League group stage.