MX23RW : Thursday, May 2 09:51:48| >> :600:515837:515837:

Slaven Bilic insists Ahmed Hegazi saga is dead and buried

The Egyptian defender was sold despite Slaven Bilic wanting to keep him as part of his squad.

West Brom boss Slaven Bilic insists the fallout following the sale of Ahmed Hegazi is over after he held clear-the-air talks with the club's hierarchy.

Speaking after the draw at Brighton on Monday, Bilic expressed his disappointment at the decision to sell Hegazi to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad.

Just a few days earlier Bilic had told a press conference the Egyptian defender would not be sold.

The row fuelled speculation that Bilic was considering his future at The Hawthorns but the 52-year-old insists the club have now put the matter behind them and moved on.

"I want to close the chapter. I was very vocal and clear but for me, that story is finished," said Bilic, who is preparing his team to play Fulham on Monday night.

"I wanted to say what I said publicly, I think it was needed, and I said the same to guys at the club – that was my opinion. For me, this is now chapter finished.

"I wish Ahmed all the best. He is a top player and a top guy and a top professional. But I would rather talk about (Semi) Ajayi, about (Branislav) Ivanovic, about (Kyle) Bartley, (Cedric) Kipre, (Dara) O'Shea and (Lee) Peltier who are the players we have in that position."

Asked if it has been easy to move on from, Bilic replied: "Why not? I said what I wanted to say. I think it needed to be said and I was vocal and I was clear.

"I also said it when we came back to the training ground two days after the game – I said it to the board and to the people at the club. For me, it is finished."

O'Shea is back in full training ahead of West Brom's trip to Craven Cottage. The defender missed the 1-1 draw with Brighton this week due to an ankle injury and should return to the squad on Monday night.

Winger Kamil Grosicki could also be included after returning to the club following the news that his loan move to Nottingham Forest this month was not ratified by the English Football League.

Bilic is hopeful midfielder Sam Field (knee) and forward Hal Robson-Kanu (broken arm) will be back in contention after the November international break.

ID:420361: cacheID:420361:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3316:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Hull City's Kamil Grosicki celebrates scoring their second goal on December 21, 2019
Read Next:
Nottingham Forest lose appeal over proposed Kamil Grosicki move
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester453141089395097
2Ipswich TownIpswich452712690573393
3Leeds UnitedLeeds45279980413990
4Southampton452591185622384
5Norwich CityNorwich4521101479631673
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4520121367472072
7Hull City451913136859970
8Middlesbrough45199176861766
9Coventry CityCoventry4517131569571264
10Preston North EndPreston45189185664-863
11Bristol City451711175347662
12Cardiff CityCardiff45195215165-1462
13Swansea CitySwansea451512185964-557
14Watford451317156058256
15Sunderland45168215252056
16Millwall451511194455-1156
17Queens Park RangersQPR451411204557-1253
18Stoke CityStoke451411204560-1553
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn451311215874-1650
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds45148234268-2650
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth451212215870-1248
22Birmingham CityBirmingham451211224965-1647
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield45918184875-2745
RRotherham UnitedRotherham45412293287-5524


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!