Al Ahly head coach Pitso Mosimane has rubbished talk of wanting to sign Mamelodi Sundowns attacking talisman Peter Shalulile.
Mosimane's first time facing his former club saw him on the winning side against his former assistants Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena with a 2-0 advantage after the first leg quarter-final CAF Champions League tie in Cairo.
Goals from Taher Mohamed and Salah Mohsen handed the reigning champions' victory ahead of the return fixture in Tshwane next week which he admitted doesn't mean anything until both games are over.
But when asked about whether he looked to neutralise the Brazilains' influential midfielder Sphelele Mkhulise on the night, Mosimane brought up the recent Shalulile rumours that have surfaced in Egyptian and South African media.
"He's a player I promoted from the youth team and I loaned him out to play in division two to get experience before bringing him back to play because he was ready," Mosimane said.
"In my opinion, we didn't neutralise him, he reminds me of Kante of Chelsea, he's a top player, an unbelievable player, like an Iniesta. But I don't want to say much about Sundowns players, then everyone says I want Sundowns players.
"There's a report saying I want Shalulile, it's a false report, the only player Ahly made contact with Mamelodi Sundowns with [Gaston] Sirino, the rest is people making up stories and talking a lot."
The Club of the Century will now travel to South Africa to face Masandawana for the second leg clash at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium next Saturday (15h00).