Midfielder Abdullah Al-Saeed reaffirms Zamalek commitment

Zamalek midfielder Abdullah Al-Saeed has broken his silence on the recent controversy surrounding his future at the Egyptian giants, insisting that he has never rebelled against the club and reaffirming his commitment to the White Castle.

The experienced midfielder issued an emotional statement through his official Instagram account as speculation continued to grow over his absence from Zamalek’s pre-season preparations.

Al-Saeed did not join the club’s training camp in the New Administrative Capital as the team began preparations for the upcoming season. His absence was reportedly linked to outstanding financial dues owed to him by the club, with the situation subsequently fuelling speculation that he could be heading towards the exit door.

Earlier reports suggested the midfielder could terminate contract with the Egyptian giants over disagreement.

However, Al-Saeed has now moved to clarify his position, making it clear that his relationship with Zamalek remains strong and that he has no intention of abandoning the club.

“To the great fans of Zamalek Club: From the first moment I joined a great entity called Zamalek Club, I considered myself part of this great family, one of the sons of this great club and one of its fans.”

The veteran player explained that his time at Zamalek has meant far more to him than simply being another chapter in his professional career.

“What I experienced during this period was not just a passing phase in my life, but rather the most important milestones of my football career amidst this audience from whom I saw nothing but love and appreciation,” he added.

Al-Saeed then directly addressed the reports suggesting that he had deliberately refused to join the team or was attempting to force his way out of the club.

The midfielder strongly rejected those claims and insisted that he had never rebelled against Zamalek.

“Everything that has been said in the past few hours is completely false. I have never rebelled against Zamalek Club, and my choice will never be to lose Zamalek and its great fans, no matter what happens. I am honored to be here,” he stated.

The 40-year-old also made a surprising revelation, admitting that he had considered retiring from professional football and ending his career while wearing the Zamalek shirt.

According to Al-Saeed, the thought of retirement emerged around the same period that the club began preparations for the new season, contributing to his absence from the team’s initial training sessions.

“I thought about retiring and ending my football career with the jersey I truly loved,” he revealed.

The midfielder explained that retirement is something every player eventually has to consider, but the timing of those thoughts coincided with the beginning of Zamalek’s preparations.

“It is a moment that will inevitably come, and it took some time and coincided with the beginning of the team’s preparation period. Hence my absence from starting with them,” he added.

Despite the circumstances surrounding his absence, Al-Saeed stressed that he continues to respect Zamalek’s management and the decisions taken by the club’s board.

“As a member of this family, whose true meaning I have felt in every situation, I affirm my full respect and appreciation for Zamalek Club, its fans, the board of directors, and the decisions it makes, and I am honored to be among its ranks this season,” he said.

His comments appear to have eased some of the uncertainty surrounding his immediate future.

Rather than confirming reports of a potential departure, Al-Saeed has publicly declared that he intends to remain at Zamalek and continue representing the club during the upcoming campaign.

The midfielder also made a commitment to the supporters, promising to place the interests of the club above everything else and give his best in the pursuit of trophies.

“I promise the great fans that I will put Zamalek’s interests first, and I promise them that I will fight and battle for all championships in the next season. Long live Zamalek and long live its loyal fans.”

Al-Saeed’s statement comes at a crucial time for Zamalek, who are preparing for the new season while attempting to build a squad capable of competing for major honours.

The midfielder remains one of the most experienced players in Egyptian football, and his decision to continue with the club provides the coaching staff with another experienced option in the squad.

His technical quality, leadership and extensive experience could prove valuable to Zamalek, particularly as the club looks to challenge on multiple fronts during the new campaign.

However, the financial issues that reportedly contributed to the recent situation may still need to be addressed between the player and the club’s management.

For now, though, Al-Saeed’s message is clear: he does not want his absence from the opening stages of pre-season to be interpreted as an attempt to rebel against Zamalek or force his departure.

Instead, he has reaffirmed his respect for the club, its supporters and its board while confirming that he remains committed to the team.

The midfielder will now hope to put the recent controversy behind him and focus on helping Zamalek compete for silverware next season.

For the club’s supporters, Al-Saeed’s decision to remain at the White Castle will come as welcome news, particularly after speculation that one of the team’s most experienced players could leave.

With his future publicly reaffirmed, attention will now turn to his return to the squad and preparations for the new campaign, where Al-Saeed is determined to play his part in Zamalek’s pursuit of success.