The central defender's reluctance to prolong his stay prompted coach Hossam Hassan to hit out at him on Saturday but his decision to carry on will come as a major boost for the bald-headed coach.

"Fathallah extended his contract for four years today," Zamalek board member Abdullah George said in a television interview.

FilGoal.com learned that Fathallah's new deal includes a $1 million buy-out clause but it cannot be invoked unless a foreign club express interest in signing him.

Recent reports suggested that the 28-year-old, whose previous contract was due to expire at the end of the season, considered joining Zamalek's arch rivals Ahli next summer.

The White Knights' persistent financial problems also fuelled the speculation but the Egyptian international eventually opted to stay put.

"The player eagerly wanted to stay, and that was obvious during the negotiations process," George added.

Fathallah, who joined Zamalek from Ghazl Mahalla in 2007, is one of the team's consistent performers although their defense has been shaky so far this season.

The Cairo giants are on top of the league table but they leaked 17 goals in their first 12 games of the competition.

Fathallah was part of Egypt's African Cup of Nations winning squads in 2008 and 2010.