The 27-year-old sealed a move to Gouna this summer from Dutch outfit Feyenoord, but a few days later the Red Devils approached him.

Although Ekrami was first reluctant to reject Ahli's overtures, their 'below-par' offer left him no choice.

"(Ahli vice president) Mahmoud Al-Khatib phoned me up to open negotiations over a summer deal, but when I met with (goalkeeping coach) Ahmed Nagi we couldn't reach an agreement," he told Modern TV.

"I was offered a below-par contract, while the boardroom didn't show any flexibility and refused to alter it, so I had to turn them down.

"Money wasn't the reason why I wanted to return to Ahli, but no way could I accept this offer."

First-team Football

Ekrami, who was trying to carve out a career for himself in Europe over the past years, is planning to settle down in Egypt in order to secure a place in the national side.

He also pointed out that Primera Liga club Atletico Madrid and Germany's Werder Bremen were once interested in his services.

"A while back, I decided to leave Feyenoord, so as I can play more first-team football elsewhere," the former Ahli youngster explained.

"But Feyenoord kept hold of me at the time, and didn't inform me of solid offers from Atletico and Bremen.

"Now after I spent the past three years on the bench, I'm seeking a fresh start."

On his objectives, Ekrami admitted that a return to Ahli still appeals to him.

"Playing for Gouna will enable me to receive an Egypt call-up and also to rejoin Ahli at some point in the future," he concluded.

Coastal side Gouna have secured their first top-flight promotion last season.