Al Ahly have revealed their regret at passing up the chance to sign Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Clottey at a cheaper price few months ago.

The Cairo-based side say they were negligent in taking a decision on the Berekum Chelsea star.

"It is our fault and it is a shame that we didn't make him our players at very cheap price," Ahly's marketing director Adly Al Keai said.

"An agent offered him to us and play some short time before we play this Champions league and we refused him because our coach who was Manuel Jose also refused him.

"Clottey will go to Europe and Ahly cannot get him now because he is very good and any European club will sign him easily."

Clottey has become a revelation in this year's CAF Champions League scoring 12 goals in nine matches.

The 24-year-old is one goal away from equalling Stephen Worgu's 13 goal record set in 2007.

Local media reports claim Italian giants AS Roma are prepared to pay three million Euros for the former Ghana Premier League goal king.