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

Solia explained in a television statement that Al Ahly's regulations stipulate the cancellation of the participation percentage clause upon reaching 300 matches, noting that this clause was not applied to him before it was amended during the negotiations to renew his contract.

He added that he was considering pursuing a professional experience outside of Egypt, but it did not materialize. Ultimately, he agreed to Al Ahly's latest offer, noting that he did not anticipate how his journey with the team would end.

He pointed out that he was surprised to participate at certain times, especially under the leadership of Emad El-Nahas, who relied on effort on the field regardless of age. He noted that he was not considered for participation in the Club World Cup and did not receive an offer to be present in the tournament.

Soleya revealed a conversation between him and Mohamed Youssef, where he informed him that he does not intend to retire. Youssef then confirmed to him that the coaching staff prefers to rely on players who will continue after the tournament.

Sadness due to the manner of departure.

The former Al-Ahly player expressed his sadness for not being informed about the decision to leave earlier, explaining that he wished he had 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 of Al Ahly fans for him increased after his departure, noting a change in coach Marcel Koller’s treatment of some players, including Ali Maaloul, without knowing the reasons.

Artistic behind-the-scenes and criticisms

Solia spoke about the behind-the-scenes within the team, explaining that he informed Kohler of his readiness to play his role on the field, despite his disappointment if not participating. He also mentioned that the coach refused 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 decline in that match. He also mentioned his sadness over losing the African Champions League, particularly in the 2017 and 2018 editions.

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