Ahli hitman Flavio, who joined the Cairo giants in 2005, was heavily linked with a loan move to the Saudi outfit, but the deal eventually fell through.

According to Shabab's officials, the negotiations with their Egyptian counterparts reached a deadlock because the Cairo side kept beating around the bush.

"We decided not to sign Flavio because Ahli's officials kept stalling for no apparent reason," Ittihad chairman Khaled Al-Baltan told the club's official website.

The Saudi powerhouse offered to sign Flavio on an extendable six-month loan deal for €1.5 million.

Ahli, on the other hand, declared that they wouldn't be able to accept their overtures unless they had a competent replacement for the 29-year-old to fill the frontline void.

Afterwards, Shabab announced the signing of Agab on a loan basis, and the end of Flavio's hunt.

Early this season, Ahli loaned out striker Emad Meteb to Ittihad Jeddah, and he noticeably impressed in the Saudi League.