Al Ahly captain Mohamed El Shenawy has revealed that he rejected significant offers, worth up to EGP 500 million, over the past three seasons to remain with Egyptian giants Al Ahly, despite earning less than 20 percent of what he could have made elsewhere.
El Shenawy, who started his career with Al Ahly before leaving the club from 2009 to 2016, returned in 2016 and has since become a key figure for the Red Eagles. During his time back at the club, he has helped secure multiple honors, including Egyptian Premier League titles and CAF Champions League victories.
“I received offers amounting to EGP 500 million during the past three seasons, but I decided to stay at Al Ahly despite being paid less than 20 percent of what I could have earned elsewhere. Al Ahly is the club of my life, and I am forever grateful for everything they have done for me,” El Shenawy stated.
El Shenawy’s loyalty was particularly highlighted during the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco when he turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr. Al Ahly released a statement at the time praising their captain’s commitment to the club.
Despite his loyalty, El Shenawy faced challenges last season, including a shoulder injury that saw him lose his starting place to Mostafa Shobeir. Shobeir played a crucial role in Al Ahly’s CAF Champions League defense, and El Shenawy was benched during both legs of the final.
“After my injury, the coach informed me that I needed time to regain my form, and that Shobeir would be relied upon during the final stages of the CAF Champions League. I accepted this decision and was on the bench during both legs of the final,” El Shenawy explained.
As the new season approaches, the 36-year-old goalkeeper is determined to reclaim his position as Al Ahly’s undisputed number one. “I have been sidelined for more than four months, which affected my form, but now I am back, and I have already started preparing for the new season to be fit and ready,” El Shenawy added.
