Ismaily agree to sell defender Hegazy to Italy\'s Fiorentina

Towering defender Ahmed Hegazy is set to join Italian side Fiorentina next season for 1.5 million euros, Egyptian Premier League club Ismaily announced on Wednesday. “Hegazy will join his new team after six months,” Ismaily said in a brief statement on their official website. “Ismaily will also receive 15% of the amount of any future transfer for the player through Fiorentina.” Hegazy rose to prominence after producing a series of impressive displays with Egypt’s junior sides this year. He was lauded for his solid performances at the heart of defence in Egypt’s U-20 World Cup campaign in Colombia, where they were knocked out at the hands of Argentina at the last-16 stage. He also played a pivotal role in helping Egypt qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in London after they finished third at the U-23 African Championship in Morocco. The 20-year-old made his senior team debut in Egypt’s 2-0 defeat by five-time world champions Brazil in a friendly game in Qatari capital Doha last month. Fiorentina, who made a poor start to the season, lie 13th in the 20-team Serie A table. They appointed Delio Rossi as their new coach last month after sacking Serbian Sinisa Mihajlovic. Hegazy will become the fourth Egyptian player to play in the Serie A after former Zamalek star Hazem Emam, former Egypt defender Hani Said (who now plays with Maqassa in the Egyptian Premier League) and Zamalek striker Ahmed Hossam “Mido”. Playmaker Emam played for Udinese in the late 1990s, Mido played for AS Roma from 2004 to 2006 while versatile defender Said had a spell with Bari. The tenures of the three players were hardly successful. Meanwhile, Ismaily moved to strengthen their fragile frontline after signing Malian striker Mohamed Traore. The 23-year-old, who was on the verge of joining Swiss side Sion but the deal was cancelled due to the transfer ban FIFA imposed on the club, will join the Dervishes in January on a three-and-a-half year deal.   ahramonline .