The football scene at Zamalek Club is witnessing significant activity, particularly regarding the ongoing winter transfer deals, coupled with the identification of departing players.
These recent moves follow the resolution of the registration suspension crisis that persisted for an extended period.
According to sources from “Al-Masry Al-Youm,” Zamalek has secured agreements for ten transfers so far, including the termination of Tarek Alaa’s loan from Baladeyet Al-Mahalla.
Negotiations are ongoing for two additional players.
The impending announcements, scheduled for Monday in a press conference, will unveil a team largely revamped in multiple positions, with the exception of the goalkeeper’s position.
Key winter acquisitions for Zamalek include Abdullah El-Said from Pyramids FC, Nasser Maher from Future FC, and Ahmed Hamdi, a former player of Al Ahly and El Gouna.
Managing the football department is the responsibility of Ahmed Sleiman and Hussein El-Sayed, members of the club’s board.
Reflecting on the 2014 Season
The ongoing transfer activity at Zamalek draws parallels with the 2014 season, a period when the White Knights acquired 17 players.
Among the notable signings were Tarek Hamed, Ahmed El-Shenawy, Bassem Morsi, Ayman Hefny, Seesee, Ali Gabr, Ahmed Samir, Khaled Kamar, and Ahmed Dweidar.
This strategic overhaul proved fruitful, especially with the club’s decision to part ways with the old squad, culminating in Zamalek securing a domestic double (Egyptian Premier League and Egypt Cup) after a prolonged absence from such achievements.
Fingerprint Conflict
A power struggle emerged during that time between Murtada Mansour, the club president, and Ahmed Sleiman, a board member overseeing transfers, over who had the more significant impact on successful deals, both in terms of quantity and quality.
In a televised appearance, Ahmed Sleiman acknowledged facing an intense internal conflict within the club, suggesting that someone was attempting to attribute success to their efforts, a veiled reference to Murtada Mansour.
The current transfer market outlook echoes the vision of the 2014 season, both in terms of quantity and diversity in positions and age distribution.
Despite the present period being winter and not the commencement of the season, parallels with the past raise questions about the dynamics within Zamalek’s football management.
