CAIRO: Ismaili opted against selling Mostafa Karim to Sharjah in a decision that is likely to infuriate their chairman Nasr Aboul-Hassan, who accepted the UAE side s offer.

Aboul-Hassan said last week that the Iraqi striker would join Sharjah for $325,000 but Ismaili board members unanimously rejected the transfer, FilGoal.com has learned.

Karim s current deal with the Dervishes will run out next summer and talks over extending his stay failed.

The 22-year-old excelled last season, scoring 11 goals as Ismaili finished runners-up to Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League.

He is yet to sparkle this season as the three-time Egyptian champions made a poor start to the season, drawing twice and losing once in their first three league games.