Zamalek have denied Wigan Athletic’s claims that they
have an option to sign Amr Zaki on a permanent deal, but any fears
that the striker could use his loan spell at The JJB Stadium as a
platform to join a big club have been rejected by the player
himself.
Egypt international Zaki has been the revelation of the Premier
League season so far, scoring four goals in four games to make an
immediate impact in one of the strongest leagues in the world.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has even compared Zaki to Newcastle
legend Alan Shearer and the £1.25 million loan fee to secure his
services for the season already looks like something of a
bargain.
Bruce recently claimed that a provision was in place to make the
deal permanent, something that has since been denied by Zamalek,
but Zaki has reassured The Latics he would not consider joining any
other club, even reigning English and European champions Manchester
United.
“If any other club came in for me I would still want to stay at
Wigan,” Zaki told the Daily Mail. “I feel at home here.
“Yes, even Manchester United, even though Steve Bruce used to
play there.
“I cannot believe the determination of Steve Bruce. He spent six
months trying to sign me. Now I want to show him that I am worth
all his efforts.
“Zamalek didn’t want me to go, I begged them because I wanted to
play in England.”
In a bid to clarify Zaki’s contractual situation, Zamalek
president Mamdouh Abbas has underlined that the Egyptian club are
under no obligation to sell him to Wigan at the end of the
season.
"Reports indicating that Wigan have an option to buy Zaki if
they pay a certain amount of money are totally untrue," he told
Zamalek's official website.
"The clauses in Zaki's contract are very clear. Wigan signed him
on loan for £1.25 million, and they would pay further £500,000 if
the player scored ten goals this season.
"But Zamalek will have the sole right to sell Zaki to any
interested club next summer."
