There are no doubts that the conflict between Zamalek and Al-Ahly is constant in the Egyptian top-flight but the signing of Ghanaian striker John Antwi has upped the ante.
The long historical conflict between Al-Ahly and Zamalek football clubs, whether over local or continental tournaments, or even in other games, is still ongoing.
This time, the conflict is in the players' transfer market, which is known as the summer mercato.
Each of the two clubs seek to strengthen its team with the best players in the Egyptian football arena, whether they be professional players of the Egyptian League itself or African players playing outside Egypt. In fact, the announced numbers seems insignificant in comparison to what is being offered in the European international transfers market.
However, it remains large and strange for the Egyptian clubs, especially with the economic situation the country has gone through in the last period, and still suffers from.
Moreover, the Egyptian sport itself has been suspended several times during the last four years, which threatened the Egyptian clubs with bankruptcy in more than one stage. Over the years, conflict between the two biggest Egyptian clubs erupted, with players moving to either one of the teams with big media fanfare. The beginning was with John Antwi, the 22-year old Ghanaian player, who was the subject of the strong conflict between the two clubs.
Al-Ahly resolved the conflict in its favour, for $1m, transferring Antwi, the attacker of the Saudi Al-Shabab FC.
The Ghanaian attacker was the League's most successful scorer while he was playing for the Ismaily team in the beginning of the current season.
However, when he was playing for the Saudi Al-Shabab FC, he registered just four goals, while he scored 12 goals with the Ismaily shirt in the first round in the Egyptian tournament. Saleh Gomaa, who plays for Portuguese club Nacional, caused a storm as Zamalek seemed assured that the player would transfer to the white team soon, while the red team's announcements asserted that Saleh would wear the Al-Ahly shirt starting from next season.
On several occasions, the player asserted that he will play for who will pay more, whilst on other occasions, he outlined that he wishes to play for Al-Ahly, with whom he eventually signed.
The 21-year-old midfielder transferred for five seasons to Al-Ahly for EGP 3m per season, which made the Zamalek president, Mortada Mansour, furious.
Mansour strongly attacked the player, as he did with John Antwi, assuring that he has a chronic heart disease, and will not succeed with Al-Ahly. There are no doubts that the conflict between Zamalek and Al-Ahly is constant.
Some clubs participate in increasing this conflict or take sides with one side or the other, whether in media or on administrative level.