Barakat's current contract will expire at the end of the season and he has yet to reach an agreement with Ahli over a new deal.

"The club intend to renew his contract despite some minor differences over the contract clauses," Adli Al-Qaeyi told FilGoal.com.

"Barakat should remain an Ahli player; he is an indispensable member of our squad. We simply can't let him leave."

The 32-year-old, who joined the Red Devils on a free transfer in the summer of 2004 after his contract with Qatar's Arabi expired, is one of the backbones of an Ahli side who won a host of local and continental titles during the past five years.

He won five Egyptian Premier League, two Egyptian Cup and three Champions League titles with Ahli.

The versatility of the evergreen Barakat, who scored 47 goals for the Cairo giants, often provides the team's coaches with plenty of options.