ISMAILIA: Ismaili turned down Al-Merreikh s bid to land goalie Essam Al-Hadari in the January transfer window, although the Egypt keeper was willing to complete the deal.
The Sudanese side “unofficially contacted Ismaili chairman Nasr Aboul-Hassan this winter, but the coastal club eventually rejected their overtures.
Ismaili said on their official website that the offer was not “financially rewarding , and thus they didn t accept it.
We decided to keep hold of Al-Hadari, an Ismaili statement read.
The Dervishes first considered selling the 36-year-old goalie to generate some cash after suffering a financial plight.
Ismaili reportedly put a $3-million price tag on Al-Hadari s head.
Al-Hadari, who is widely considered as the best keeper in the country s history, joined Ismaili in the close season after ending a 17-month spell with Swiss outfit Sion.
The Egypt first-choice custodian relatively managed to maintain his assured displays between the sticks this season, but expressed his concerns over Ismaili s unconvincing start to the season.
Al-Hadari was initially handed a four-month ban and a ?900,000 fine for breaching his contract with Ahly in February 2008 to move to Sion, few days after helping Egypt win a record-extending sixth Nations Cup title.
The sanction was later frozen by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upon his appeal. A final verdict is yet to be returned.
