Saad Shalabi, the interim director of the Egyptian club Al-Ahli, first revealed details of the hospitalization case of club president Mahmoud al-Khatib due to suspected heart attack. "Captain Mahmoud al-Khatib was hospitalized during the winter transfer period due to suspected heart attack," Shalabi reported in an interview for MBC Egypt. "He had serious health problems, and he had to stay in the hospital until his condition stabilized. The doctors strongly recommended that he remain under observation for 48 hours, but he refused due to the importance of the transfer period, during which important negotiations and conversations took place, for which al-Khatib himself was responsible."
Shalabi also added that al-Khatib would not travel with the team to Qatar for the match against Pachuca in the Club World Cup due to contracting the coronavirus, which led to problems with the lungs. However, the board of directors insisted on his participation due to the importance of his presence at these matches, and the captain went along with the team.
Recently, al-Khatib stated that he would be absent from the club in the near future due to prolonged treatment, which had been postponed at the last moment.
