GENEVA: The possible transfer of Egypt s African Nations Cup-winning goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary to Sion took a new twist on Wednesday with the Swiss club asking FIFA for a temporary transfer certificate.
El-Hadary arrived in Switzerland last Friday and has trained several times with Sion s goalkeeping coach Marco Pasolo though there has been drama in Egypt with his club Al-Ahly and national press denouncing the trip of the 35-year-old, considered the best in Africa in his position.
Sion club president Christian Constantin told journalists: I have asked FIFA for a temporary transfer certificate to allow El-Hadary to play for us as quickly as possible.
Constantin explained his decision by claiming Al-Ahly had refused to open negotiations on the transfer, adding they had offered the club 400,000 Swiss francs (270,000 euros) which was the salary he would earn for the final two years of his contract. – AFP
