Amr Al-Sulaya, former Al-Ahly player and current Ceramica Cleopatra player, revealed details of his departure from the Red Castle at the end of last season, confirming that the decision came as a surprise to him.

Al-Sulaya explained in television statements that Al-Ahly's regulations stipulate canceling the participation percentage clause upon reaching 300 matches, pointing out that this clause was not applied to him before it was amended during contract renewal negotiations.

He added that he was considering pursuing a professional experience outside Egypt, but it did not materialize, so he ultimately agreed to Al-Ahly's last offer, emphasizing that he did not expect the way his journey with the team would end.

He pointed out that he was surprised by his participation at certain times, especially under the leadership of Emad Al-Nahhas, who relied on effort on the field regardless of age, noting that he was not considered for participation in the Club World Cup and did not receive an offer to be part of the tournament.

Al-Sulaya revealed a conversation between him and Mohamed Youssef, where he informed him that he did not intend to retire, to which the latter confirmed that the technical staff preferred to rely on players who would continue after the tournament.

Sadness Over the Departure Method

The former Al-Ahly player confirmed that he felt sad for not being informed of the departure decision early, explaining that he wished to have the opportunity to bid farewell to the fans, especially since he was unaware of his fate until the last match in the league.

He added that the appreciation from Al-Ahly fans increased after his departure, pointing out a change in coach Marcel Koller's treatment of some players, including Ali Maaloul, without knowing the reasons.

Technical Details and Criticisms

Al-Sulaya spoke about internal team details, clarifying that he informed Koller of his readiness to fulfill his role on the field despite his sadness if not participating, and also mentioned the coach's refusal to practice penalty kicks before one of the matches.

Regarding the team's performance, he confirmed that Al-Ahly faced a less formidable version of the Sundowns team in Cairo, expressing his surprise at the defensive retreat in that match, noting his sadness over losing the African Champions League, especially in the 2017 and 2018 editions.

He concluded his statements by confirming that the recent match against Esperance in Cairo was one of the easiest, considering that the Tunisian team succeeded in exploiting the confidence of Al-Ahly players during the match.