Stoke winger Ramadan Sobhi got a little more than he bargained for on returning to his native Egypt in order to report for international duty.
Indeed, the 20-year-old fell foul of a ridiculously elaborate stunt devised by notorious television prankster Ramez Galel.
Watch this to the end, it's absolutely ridiculous - Stoke's Ramadan Sobhi the victim of an absurdly elaborate prank by an Egyptian TV show. pic.twitter.com/xeFKNgl2ZE
- Ball Street (@BallStreet) June 6, 2017
The panic began setting in when Sobhi's car got caught in quicksand, only for his driver to be swallowed completely.
Then, with Sobhi and his friend trapped up to their waists in the sinking sand, Galel upped the ante by emerging from a cave dressed in a giant animatronic komodo dragon suit.
Amazing stuff.