Belgian side Standard had a €2.5 million bid for the talented forward turned down by Zamalek on Wednesday.

The Cairo club said they would give Standard 10 days to make an improved offer or lose any hopes of signing Shikabala when the transfer window re-opens in January.

But speaking to FilGoal.com, the media shy Shikabala revealed that he already decided to depart Zamalek regardless of the outcome of their negotiations with Standard.

"I will honor my contract with Zamalek if my move to Standard fails," he said.

"However, I will leave the club once this contract ends in the middle of next season.

"Zamalek have every right to ask for a specific amount of money to sell me and I have every right to fulfill my dream of playing in Europe."

The White Knights said in August that they extended the deal of Shikabala to end speculation regarding his future after Anderlecht, Standard's compatriots, relentlessly pursued him in the close season.

However, administrative problems prevented them from registering the new contract with the Egyptian FA.

They should now convince Shikabala to sign a new deal, a possibility that looks very remote.

"Zamalek want €5 million to sell Shikabala, this is a very excessive demand," the 24-year-old's agent Samir Abdul-Tawab said.

Shikabala has been an integral member of Zamalek's squad since rejoining his boyhood club in 2006 after ending a two-year spell with Greek side PAOK.

But he is consistently criticized for failing to live up to his potential due to some childish acts on and off the pitch.

He won with Zamalek one title during his spell at the club – the Egyptian Cup in 2008.