Zamalek open to selling any player, says president Hussein Labib

Zamalek president Hussein Labib says the club are willing to sell any player and has defended the decision not to appoint a head of delegation for their CAF Champions League match against Rwandan Army.

Labib said the decision to travel to Rwanda without a club official leading the delegation was partly intended to reduce costs.

“Zamalek’s trip to Rwanda without a head of delegation? Cutting expenses was one of the reasons,” Labib told ON Sport.

The trip was followed by controversy after Ahmed Fattouh and Mostafa El-Zenari went to a location different from the one authorised by the club’s football director, Abdel Nasser Mohamed. The incident led to confrontations with supporters, according to the players’ agent, Samir Salah.

Labib also addressed Juan Bizerra’s move to Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, rejecting suggestions that Zamalek had been forced to sell the player because of disciplinary problems.

“Zamalek were forced to let Bizerra leave because he rebelled? Where is this rebellion?” he said. “He received an offer with many benefits in the United Arab Emirates. That is what I have heard, but I do not have the information myself.

“We negotiated with Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and reached a good agreement. We received a significant amount of money, although we lost an important player. We received $3m immediately, with another $2m to come later, and saved $900,000 in payments owed to his former club.”

He added that the money from the transfer would be used to settle financial obligations to players and clubs.

On Hossam Abdel Maged, Labib denied there was a clause preventing the defender from joining Al Ahly. “Fifa does not allow such conditions,” he said. “He only wants to play professionally. He is a very good player.”

Labib said Zamalek could offer players longer contracts once they turn 18. Youth players under that age can sign for three years, he explained, while contracts of five or seven years are possible after they reach 18.

Adi Al-Dabbagh and Chico Banza have sent formal warnings to the club over unpaid wages, but Labib said financial difficulties had delayed payments. He added that the club’s football company would resolve the issue.

He said the board inherited Zamalek during a difficult period, dismissed Osorio after he failed to establish a good relationship with the players, paid the manager’s dues and signed 10 players, regardless of their quality.

“Over three and a half years, we have won five football trophies,” Labib said.

He added that selling Ahmed Fattouh last summer would have sent the wrong message after the departures of Hossam Abdel Maged and Bizerra. Zamalek intend to review Fattouh’s situation in six months and are considering renewing his contract, although no talks have yet taken place.

Labib said supporters were entitled to criticise the board and admitted he was unhappy with the teams’ performances. He hopes Zamalek can win both the CAF Champions League and the Egyptian Premier League.

He praised Mahmoud Hamdy “El Wensh” as a role model who had overcome two cruciate-ligament injuries, described Chico Banza as a good and unpredictable player, and said Mohamed Shehata would not join Al Ahly.

Labib became Zamalek president in October 2023 after receiving 15,229 votes, the second-highest total among the candidates.