Ahmed Shobeir, during his radio program, revealed the truth behind the recent rumors regarding Al Ahly's potential receipt of an official offer from Valencia, the Spanish La Liga club, to sign Mostafa Shobeir, the first-team goalkeeper.
These statements come amid a wave of controversy stirred by social media users and some media reports, which suggested there was European interest in the young goalkeeper, even mentioning a significant financial offer reaching 7 million dollars.
In this regard, Shobeir clarified that all rumors about the financial offer or contract signing were completely false, confirming that Al Ahly had not received any official offers from the Spanish club or any other regarding Mostafa Shobeir during the upcoming transfer period.
He explained that the situation arose from communication between a sports marketing company and Al Ahly officials, specifically with Mohamed Youssef, the club’s sporting director, as part of an exploration and marketing process for several Egyptian players, including Shobeir, to European clubs.
Shobeir confirmed that the company in question is well-known in the European transfer market, working with Spanish clubs such as Getafe and Valencia, along with other clubs in Germany, Austria, and Belgium. However, it had not made an official offer to Al Ahly for Shobeir; it had only inquired about the club's stance on the possibility of a transfer.
He added that the same company is responsible for marketing Egyptian national team star Omar Marmoush, a Manchester City player, and has extensive connections with agents from clubs looking to sign young players with high potential at reasonable prices compared to European market rates.
Shobeir clarified that what occurred was a non-binding verbal offer, which does not reach the level of serious negotiations and contains no contractual terms or financial agreements. Therefore, discussions of an imminent transfer or official offer are inaccurate.
The company had only expressed Valencia's interest in strengthening the goalkeeper position following the departure of their first-choice goalkeeper and their search for a replacement with good technical abilities at a reasonable price, which led them to monitor Mostafa Shobeir's performance with Al Ahly and the Egypt U-23 national team.
The media personality emphasized that Mostafa Shobeir remains committed to his contract with Al Ahly and will not take any steps without the approval of the club's technical management, led by Captain Mahmoud El-Khatib, the club's president, who places great importance on the goalkeeper position.
On the other hand, a source within the Red Castle revealed that the club’s football department is not considering letting go of Mostafa Shobeir, even if an official offer comes in, especially with the nearing end of veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy's career, who is 35 years old.
Shobeir is currently seen within Al Ahly as the future first-choice goalkeeper, and he has shown significant improvement in his performance over the past two seasons, participating in crucial matches in both the domestic league and the CAF Champions League, which has boosted the coaching staff’s confidence in him.
The source added that the coaching staff, led by Marcel Koller, sees Mostafa Shobeir as the future of the goalkeeper position and cannot easily part with him, especially given the shortage of goalkeepers and the injuries to some reserve goalkeepers.
It was also pointed out that Al Ahly usually handles the issue of young players’ potential transfers with great caution, preferring that players gain sufficient experience at the local and continental levels before moving to top European leagues.
Historically, Al Ahly has ensured the professional marketing of its players to ensure they transition to strong European clubs that offer them opportunities to play and develop, as seen with Mohamed Salah’s early move from the Arab Contractors to Basel, even though he wasn’t an Al Ahly youth product, and Ramadan Sobhi’s experience with Stoke City in England.
Mostafa Shobeir, the son of legendary goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir, who previously represented Egypt in continental and global tournaments, remains under constant scrutiny from fans and the media, which adds to the challenges he faces as a young player striving to carve out his own identity.
Despite early criticism, Shobeir has significantly improved his performance recently, impressing with solid displays whenever given the opportunity, especially in El-Shenawy's absence due to injury or rest.
In another context, Al Ahly is preparing to face Haras El-Hodoud later today, in the fourth round of the Egyptian Premier League championship play-off. The team aims to continue its winning streak and get closer to securing the local title.
It is expected that the technical staff will rely on El-Shenawy for the match, with Shobeir on the bench, supported by growing confidence from fans who now view him as the future first-choice goalkeeper for both Al Ahly and the national team.
Amid talks of European clubs showing interest in several Egyptian players, Shobeir’s name stands out as one of the most promising talents in a crucial position that typically doesn’t attract much external attention, offering him a real opportunity should his performance and consistency continue to improve in the upcoming seasons.
Ultimately, any potential move for Shobeir or other Al Ahly players to Europe will depend on a thorough evaluation by the club’s management, which seeks to balance the ambitions of the players with retaining key elements that ensure continued success at both the domestic and continental levels.
With the summer transfer window approaching, the Egyptian transfer market is expected to see movements from several standout players, both domestically and internationally, but Mostafa Shobeir, according to all official sources, will remain at Al Ahly for now, with no intention of letting him go unless under terms that ensure the best interests of both the player and the club.
