Wadi Degla midfielder Islam Kano has expressed his concern over the growing influence of money in football, saying the game has shifted from passion to profit.
According to Kano, loyalty and love for a club have taken a backseat as financial incentives dominate players’ priorities.
“Today, no player plays purely for the club he loves,” Kano said. “Everyone is focused on money. Contracts and salaries are blessings from God—some earn more, some less—but jealousy and the pursuit of higher pay have become the norm.”
Kano criticized the staggering wages in the Egyptian league, calling many figures “exaggerated and illogical.”
He added, “No player deserves 100 million pounds or more. There are players here earning more than some in the Spanish league. The gap between a player earning 150 million and another earning 2 million is simply unrealistic.”
Reflecting on Wadi Degla’s approach, Kano noted that the club’s 2010 contracts were comparable to current figures, which he considers a fair valuation of talent in the Egyptian league.
Beyond finances, Kano emphasized the importance of fans, saying their presence inspires players regardless of who they support.
“When we played against Ghazl El Mahalla, Al Ahly, and Zamalek with fans in the stands, their voices motivated us,” he said. He also lamented the league’s reliance on company and institutional clubs, suggesting this diminishes competitiveness.
“Football has become a job, not a talent,” Kano concluded. “Everyone is chasing money, and the love for the game seems to have been lost.”
