Tarek El Taib praises Al Hilal’s professionalism and calls for Emam Ashour to be valued

Tarek El Taib says Al Hilal treated him as its most highly paid player despite the presence of several major stars, while insisting that the Saudi club’s professionalism and attention to players’ welfare set it apart from other teams.

The former Al Hilal and Libya midfielder made the remarks while discussing his time in the Saudi Pro League on the On Sport television network. He described the club as being comparable with the elite sides in world football and said its treatment of him went well beyond what he experienced elsewhere.

“Al Hilal’s environment is different from that of any other club. It is a major institution and an extremely professional organisation. Above all, the club treated me with humanity,” El Taib said.

The 47-year-old added that his time in Saudi Arabia gave him a strong sense of importance and satisfaction. During his spell with Al Hilal, he shared a dressing room with a number of prominent players, including Yasser Al-Qahtani, Nawaf Al-Temyat and Mohammed Al-Deayea.

“I felt my value greatly at Al Hilal, gave everything I had and was extremely happy. I played alongside many stars, such as Yasser Al-Qahtani, Nawaf Al-Temyat and Mohammed Al-Deayea, among others,” he said.

Despite the status of those players, El Taib revealed that he received the highest salary in the squad. He said that did not necessarily create a problem because football clubs typically operate different wage structures based on a player’s contribution and commercial appeal.

“Although there were players of that calibre, I was the highest-paid player, because that is football. Some players are in the star category, while others are regarded as very good players. What I mean is that salaries have their own system, linked to performances on the pitch and market value,” he said.

El Taib also rejected the suggestion that his salary caused tension in the Al Hilal dressing room. According to the former Libya international, his team-mates accepted the situation and dealt with it in a highly professional manner.

The discussion about wage differences led El Taib to comment on a separate debate involving Egyptian club Al Ahly and midfielder Emam Ashour. He said Al Ahly had its own policy concerning a salary ceiling, but argued that exceptional players should still receive special recognition.

“Al Ahly has a specific policy, which is a salary cap,” El Taib said.

“At the same time, the player must be appreciated and given the highest salary at the club, because he is the team’s leading star and was the most prominent player for the Egypt national team at the World Cup,” he added.

El Taib concluded that he supported the principle of maintaining a wage ceiling, but believed clubs should make allowances for their most influential players.

“In short, I agree with the idea of a salary cap, but stars must be valued differently,” he said.