Zamalek insist Juan Bezerra is tied to three-year deal after exit plea

Zamalek have rejected any prospect of selling Brazilian winger Juan Bezerra during the current summer transfer window and warned that he could face disciplinary action if he continues to miss first-team training.

The dispute follows a statement published by Bezerra on his personal Instagram account on Thursday, in which he said he wanted to leave the Egyptian club before the start of the 2026-27 season.

Bezerra said his request was based on what he described as a previous promise that he would be allowed to depart. Zamalek responded with a statement of their own, insisting that no such commitment had been made by the club’s president or any member of its board.

“Zamalek’s board of directors, headed by Captain Hussein Labib, announces that the door is closed to any offers to sell Brazilian player Juan Bezerra, a first-team football player, during the current summer transfer window,” the club said.

The club added that its position had been settled and that it would not discuss any offers made for the winger.

“The board stresses that the club has made its decision and will not discuss any offers that arrive for the player. Zamalek cannot be forced to sell, whether it concerns Bezerra or anyone else, especially if the player is absent from training,” the statement continued.

Zamalek also challenged Bezerra to identify who had allegedly promised him a move at the end of the season.

“The board stresses that the player’s statement included claims about a promise from the club that he would leave at the end of the season. This did not happen at all on the part of the club president or any member of the board, and the player should have identified who made him this promise,” it said.

The Egyptian club said it had instructed Bezerra to return to Cairo and resume training immediately, pointing to his contractual obligations.

“To ensure that Zamalek secures its rights, the club’s board has notified the player of the need to return to Cairo and join the team’s training immediately, given that he has an official contract with the club for the next three seasons,” the statement said.

Zamalek added that it would use the measures available under Bezerra’s contract and the relevant regulations, including its internal disciplinary rules, while reserving all of its rights.

The winger joined Zamalek during the previous summer transfer window from Ukrainian club Oleksandriya. He subsequently helped the team win the Egyptian league title, ending a four-year wait for the trophy.

The club’s latest statement makes clear that it does not currently intend to consider a transfer despite Bezerra’s public request to leave, with the player’s absence from training now at the centre of the dispute.