Hossam El Zanaty watches Zamalek friendly as sporting director talks continue

Hossam El Zanaty, assistant sporting director at Danish club FC Nordsjælland, attended Zamalek’s friendly against Eastern Company as discussions over a possible move to the Egyptian club continued.

Zamalek are currently playing the match at Petro Sport Stadium, with Eastern Company leading 2-1. El Zanaty was watching from the stands, according to information obtained by FilGoal.com.

The 37-year-old is being considered for the vacant sporting director role at Zamalek following the departure of John Edward, who left the position after one season.

A source at Zamalek previously dismissed reports that El Zanaty had made specific financial demands before agreeing to take the job.

“There is absolutely no truth to what has been reported about Hossam El Zanaty setting specific financial conditions to take over as sporting director,” the source told FilGoal.com.

“The financial matters will not be an obstacle to reaching a satisfactory agreement, and the negotiations are moving in the right direction.”

The source added: “The club’s board is completely convinced that El Zanaty is capable of achieving success, as the administration seeks to continue the experience of having a sporting director responsible for the football department as a whole.”

El Zanaty has already held a meeting with Edward to discuss the role and receive information about the team before a final decision is made on whether he will succeed him.

The discussions also covered the club’s financial situation and the contracts of its players.

It was not El Zanaty’s first contact with Zamalek. He had previously held meetings with the club’s board and with Abdel Nasser Mohamed, the team’s football director, according to FilGoal.com.

Those meetings formed part of the club’s assessment of El Zanaty as it considers appointing a sporting director to oversee the wider football operation.

Zamalek are understood to be close to reaching an agreement with him, although no final date has yet been set for the beginning of his work.

The most likely timeframe for the agreement to be completed is within two weeks, according to information obtained by FilGoal.com.

Edward left Zamalek’s sporting director position after one season, during which the club won the league title.