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EXCLUSIVE:
Amr Zaki signed his official contract with Lokomotiv
Moscow on Tuesday morning, after EgyptianPlayers.com
was first to report the striker signing for the club.
Zaki spoke once more to EP about his prospects in Russia.
Read also:
One of the reasons Zaki signed for Lokomotiv was that
he was eager to play European football right now, and
not wait until the summer. "The [Russian] league
was supposed to start on the 2nd of March but it has
been delayed until the 18th because a friendly game
between Russia and Brazil," said the Egyptian star
to EgyptianPlayers.com.
"I will go to Russia in a couple of days after
I finish of my affairs here, and I will then have go
to have my medical check," he added.
Speaking about his new team, Zaki stressed the similarities
between his former club and his very new club, who finished
3rd in the Russian League last season. "I spoke
to the President of the Lokomotiv Moscow, and the Vice-President
is here in Egypt right now.
"The club is like ENPPI; it is a company club and
the President is also a minister, while the Vice-President
is a Russian originally from Tunisia.
"The Vice-President was very fond of me and Mohamed
Abotrica, and he sent two coaches to watch the national
team, and they chose me and Emad Moteb. The President
of the club also tried to buy Emad but Al-Ahly kept
delaying everything and stretched their financial demands
too much, and this resulted in Lokomotiv looking away."
Amr Zaki also revealed that he had other offers, apart
from those he revealed yesterday, also here on EP. "During
the [ACN] tournament many people talked to me, most
importantly Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers, but
the transfer period in Europe was over at the end of
January and that delayed everything.
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"This was all despite the fact that Bolton had sent a
fax to ENPPI after the transfer period and offers to take
me on loan to a Scottish or Swedish club during the coming
period, after which I would return to them for the new season.
"There were also offers from Arab clubs such as Ahly
Dubai who wanted me on a three-month loan, giving LE 2 million
to ENPPI and LE 2 million for myself.
"And at the same time as the Lokomotiv offer, an Egyptian
club that I prefer not to name offered a cheque to ENPPI worth
LE 15 million, but the board rejected. And I reject playing
for any club in Egypt apart from ENPPI, whom I have to thank
a lot for standing by me and not denying me my desire to go
abroad even if without money and at a time when many clubs
force their players to give up some of their rights in order
to leave - like Hosni Abd Rabo - and how I wish all clubs
could learn from ENPPI."
Amr Zaki knows he'll be facing different weather conditions
among other changes in eastern Europe, but he is ready. "I
am a professional player and my entire concentration is on
how I can manage to succeed and stabilise myself there. I
am prepared to adapt to the weather there."
Directing a message at the Lokomotiv fans, he stated: "I
know that there are no African players there apart from former
Ismaily player Traore, and I want to say to the fans that
there are very good players in Africa and Egypt, and inshallah
(God willing) I will prove this to you. I will put in all
my effort and all my loyalty will obvoiusly be to Lokomotiv
Moscow because it is my club..."
All the latest on Amr Zaki will be here on EgyptianPlayers.com...
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