Gabonese forward Aaron Boupendza is set to sign for Romanian club Rapid Bucharest despite Zamalek announcing the deal.
A few days ago, Cairo giants Zamalek welcomed Aaron Boupendza to the club after receiving his international transfer certificate.
The Whites reportedly reached an agreement with Boupendza on a three-year deal after his contract expired with MLS club FC Cincinnati.
However, the player is believed to be keen on returning to Europe instead of moving to Egypt, with several reports insisting the player hasn’t signed with any club yet.
And it seems the news are becoming true as Romanian club FC Rapid București confirmed that Aaron Boupendza is set to join the club in the upcoming few days.
Rapid’s head coach, Marius Șumudică, announced the signing of the experienced striker, emphasizing his crucial role in securing the deal.
“If it weren’t for me, Boupendza wouldn’t have joined Rapid,” Șumudică said on Wednesday.
“We received many inquiries about how we managed to sign a player of his caliber. We’ve reached an agreement, and the official paperwork is being prepared.
“Boupendza will arrive in Bucharest after completing his visa process. The financial efforts made by the club were also significant, as bringing in such a player is no easy task.”
Șumudică also acknowledged Zamalek’s transfer announcement of the Gabonese, but insisted that the player didn’t sign with the Egyptian club.
Missing out on Boupendza would be a significant blow for Zamalek, as it would mark the third forward to opt against joining the club this summer.
Earlier, Moroccan striker Karim El Berkaoui chose to renew his contract with his current club, Al-Raed, despite advanced negotiations with the Egyptian side.
Moroccan forward Achraf Bencharki also pulled out of a deal with the Whites to re-sign with former club Al-Rayyan on a free transfer.