In a new development raising many questions, the name of Portuguese coach José Gomes has resurfaced, amid reports of Al Ahly club's interest in signing him to lead the team in the upcoming season, succeeding coach Jess Thorup.

Gomez himself revealed the ambiguity of his situation, confirming that the renewal of his contract with the Saudi club Al-Fateh is still unresolved, while discussions and negotiations between his agent and the club's management continue without reaching a final agreement yet.

The name of the Portuguese coach had been strongly considered earlier within the corridors of Al-Ahly, especially with the team's need to finalize the head coach position before participating in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. However, his contract with Al-Fateh at the time hindered the completion of the deal.

On the field, Al-Fateh drew 2-2 with Neom in the 31st round of the Saudi League, in a match that did not significantly change the team's position. They are in 12th place with 33 points, 10 points clear of the relegation zone, with four rounds remaining in the season.

Despite previous reports indicating the renewal of his contract, Gomez returned to confirm during the press conference: "There is still a lot of talk about my future next season, and matters are still ongoing between my agent and the club's management," which keeps the door open to all possibilities.

The 55-year-old coach has a diverse record, having led Al-Fateh in 52 matches, during which he achieved 19 victories, 12 draws, and 21 losses. He has also previously coached Al-Ahli Saudi and Al-Taawoun before his current position.

In terms of achievements, Gomez won the Saudi Super Cup with Al-Ahli in the 2016-2017 season and recently made his mark with Zamalek in 2024, leading them to win the African Confederation Cup and the African Super Cup.