Eyad El Askalany, the Pyramids FC defender, has revealed new details about his football career, explaining why he turned down opportunities to join Al Ahly and Zamalek, what went wrong during his time at Russian club Rostov, and why he eventually decided to return to Egyptian football.

Speaking to Modern Sport TV, El Askalany explained that joining Pyramids did not mean giving up on his European ambitions.

Instead, he wanted regular playing time, an opportunity to regain his best form, and a better chance of earning a place in Egypt's national team.

The young defender also made it clear that he still hopes to play abroad again, with the English Premier League remaining his preferred destination for the next stage of his career.

Rejecting Egypt's Giants

El Askalany explained that he received offers from Al Ahly and Zamalek while playing for Ismaily.

However, he decided to prioritize a move to Europe rather than continue his career in the Egyptian Premier League.

His opportunity to join Rostov arrived when he was just 19 years old, during Ehab Galal's time as Ismaily head coach.

Despite his young age and relatively limited number of first-team appearances, El Askalany had already established himself as a regular starter, attracting interest from clubs outside Egypt.

He revealed that Rostov initially offered Ismaily $400,000 for his transfer.

As negotiations progressed, the Russian club increased its offer to $1 million, a figure that convinced Ismaily to approve the deal.

El Askalany also confirmed that another Russian club, Lokomotiv, was interested in signing him.

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However, its financial offer did not meet Ismaily's expectations, making Rostov the preferred option.

According to the defender, his determination to experience European football played the biggest role in his decision, even with Al Ahly and Zamalek interested in securing his services.

Problems at Rostov

Discussing his departure from Russia, El Askalany explained that his relationship with Rostov's head coach became difficult because he was not receiving enough opportunities to play.

His situation was further complicated by several injuries, which affected his ability to build momentum and secure a regular place in the team.

The defender revealed that he had been considering leaving Rostov since the previous winter transfer window, believing he needed more playing time to continue developing.

He received an offer to join another club on a six-month loan, but Rostov rejected the proposed move, forcing him to remain with the Russian side despite his desire for a fresh start.

During the summer transfer window, El Askalany again requested permission to leave, this time seeking a season-long loan that would allow him to play consistently and rebuild his match fitness.

He explained that his ambition to represent Egypt was a major factor behind the decision.

In his view, playing regularly would improve his chances of attracting the attention of the national team coaching staff.

Eventually, El Askalany chose Pyramids as his destination for the current season, seeing the move as an opportunity to regain his confidence, demonstrate his abilities, and compete for a place in Egypt's squad.

Although his time in Russia did not develop as he had hoped, the defender remains determined to pursue another opportunity in Europe, with a future move to the Premier League still among his main ambitions.