CAIRO: Emad Meteb s move to Bristol City suffered an unexpected setback in the wake of his participation in the recent Cairo derby, but the striker s agent is hopeful of resolving the issue.
Meteb played full 90 minutes as Ahly edged Zamalek 2-1 in the Champions League, only a few days after the 25-year-old penned a three-year contract with the Robins.
Consequently, English media reported Tuesday that Meteb s supposed farewell consternated the intolerant City coach Gary Johnson, who may call off the deal.
However, Meteb s agent Nader Shawki revealed that a misunderstanding with the Championship side s representative caused the confusion.
A misunderstanding made us believe that Emad s participation in the game is fully acknowledged by Bristol, Shawki told FilGoal.com.
Bristol s representative Mohamed Hamid informed us that there will be no problem if Meteb played his last game.
But then we were surprised to learn the frustration of Bristol officials to the extent that the transfer could be canceled.
I have already spoken to Johnson and I hope we can resolve the problem, because Emad didn’t mean any disrespect to the English club.
Meteb, who signed for a fee of £1.5 million, expressed his delight after fulfilling his “dream of playing in Europe.
Zamalek s chances of having Wigan-bound striker Amr Zaki available against Ahly in the Egyptian Super Cup have almost faded, following Meteb s problem with Bristol City.
Zaki, who has just been unveiled by Wigan, is in a similar situation as he has already signed for the Latics, days before the Cairo derby.
Zamalek have announced that Zaki will lead the attack against Ahly, but the Egypt striker s personal advisor Mohamed Saied stressed that nothing will be done without Wigan s approval.
Amr is eager to say goodbye to Zamalek fans and help the team in the Super Cup, but after Meteb’s problem, I don’t think we can take that risk, Saied told FilGoal.com.
He will never play unless Wigan gives him an official approval, and I really doubt that they will allow him play.
Zamalek are already without suspended striker Gamal Hamza, who scored the team s only goal in last Sunday s defeat.
