Khaled Al-Issa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Ahly Foundation, confirmed that negotiations had taken place to attract the Brazilian Vinicius Junior, the Real Madrid winger, after the departure of the Frenchman Alain Maximin to the Turkish club Fenerbahce in the ending summer transfer period.

He continued: “There was a desire to bring in a very big winger, Vinicius, from Real Madrid, but during the negotiations something unexpected happened, which was the Saudi players leaving to go professional in accordance with the scholarship program, and the striker Firas Al-Braikan was scheduled to leave.”

He added: “Our priority shifted from the winger to the spearhead based on the departure of Al-Braikan, and we entered into negotiations with Ivan Toni and Victor Osimhen, and it ended with Toni’s arrival.”

He explained: “Firas Al-Braikan did not enter the scholarship program and therefore continued with us. As a result, a void occurred in the wing position, and we will work to strengthen this position with a deal that exceeds the ambitions of Al-Ahly fans during the winter period.” "