The report says manager Colin Harvey wanted to assess more than Shobeir’s reflexes. Everton also needed to know whether the goalkeeper could adapt to English football, handle pressure and convince officials that he was ready to become the club’s first choice.
That final point proved decisive. A work permit would reportedly have required authorities to believe Shobeir was arriving as a genuine starter. With Neville Southall still at Everton, that case was difficult to make.
Shobeir is said to have enjoyed the training and the opportunity to work alongside Southall. Everton’s interest did not disappear immediately, with chief scout Terry Darracott reportedly sent to continue monitoring him.
Everton’s search had gathered momentum because Southall was unsettled and had repeatedly sought a move. Yet the Welsh goalkeeper remained the club’s most valuable asset and continued to command strong support from the stands.
The report says former manager Mike Smith believed Shobeir had enough quality to compete with Southall. Even so, competition was not the same as succession. The work-permit rules turned Everton’s goalkeeping dilemma into a bureaucratic and sporting gamble.
In the end, Southall began the 1990-91 season as Everton’s No. 1 and remained in that role for years. Shobeir returned to Cairo, leaving behind a fascinating glimpse of what might have been.
The episode remains a reminder that ambitious transfers can hinge on timing as much as talent. The next time Everton enter a transfer window seeking a goalkeeper, the Shobeir story will offer a historical lesson: replacing an established No. 1 requires the paperwork, the planning and the player to align.