Ittihad Jeddah make big-money bid for Abou-Treika

Saudi giants Ittihad Jeddah have made an EL20 million offer to sign Ahly’s classy playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika this summer, Ahram Online understands. Ahly told Ittihad they needed some time to check whether Abou-Treika and Portuguese coach Manuel Jose, who brought the Egyptian international to the Red Devils in January 2004, are ready to accept the offer. The gifted 32-year-old was chased by UAE side Ahly last season but he eventually preferred to stay in Egypt and extend his contract with the Cairo giants. Abou-Treika has led Ahly to a host of domestic and continental titles since his arrival from modest club Tersana, thanks to some decisive goals and neat assists. However, he was criticized lately for suffering a dip in form, with some pundits suggesting that he would never be able to replicate his past heroics, given his age. Jose insisted when he was appointed as Ahly’s boss for a third spell last January that Abou-Treika still had a big role to play with the team.ahramonline .