Ben Ramdan surprises Al-Ahli with his desire to leave

Tunisian Mohamed Ali Ben Ramdane, an Al Ahly player, surprised club officials in recent days with a request to leave the club during the ongoing summer transfer window, citing his desire to embark on a new footballing experience.

Ben Ramdane had previously expressed his wish to depart the club at the end of the past season, but the club’s management persuaded him to close that chapter at the time, particularly due to the insistence of new Moroccan head coach Hussein Amotta. However, the player recently surprised everyone at the club by renewing his desire to leave, coinciding with renewed efforts by Qatari club Al-Shahaniya to sign him.

Meanwhile, the attention of Egyptian and global football fans is turning to Camp Nou on August 19, where Al Ahly will face Spanish giants Barcelona in a historic friendly match as part of the Joan Gamper Trophy, held in preparation for the 2026-2027 football season.

Al Ahly will enter this fixture as the first Egyptian and African club to participate in the Joan Gamper Trophy. The match will carry special significance, as the two sides have met in two previous friendlies: the first took place in Spain in 1961, and the second occurred in 2007 during Al Ahly’s celebrations marking 100 years since its founding.

On another front, despite Zamalek’s success in finalizing its African license file and obtaining the approval required to participate in the new season’s CAF Champions League, the club still faces a major challenge stemming from the continued suspension of registrations due to pending financial disputes with the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA).

According to FIFA’s system, six unresolved cases remain, meaning the disciplinary registration ban continues. This significantly reduces the club’s chances of strengthening its squad with new signings before the season begins, unless it succeeds in settling these cases and paying the required dues.

If the ban remains in place, Zamalek will enter the new season with its current squad without concluding any new contracts, posing a significant challenge for the team, especially given the demanding schedule across multiple competitions.

Meanwhile, Egypt national team defender Ahmed Hegazy has officially announced his retirement from football. Egyptian captain Mohamed Salah sent a message to Hegazy via social media platforms, saying, “The journey was long, and we lived it together since our childhood. We enjoyed every stage of it. Best of luck in what comes next.”