Journalists and reporters covering Zamalek Club news have criticized the administration due to the transfer of Imam Ashour to Al-Ahly Club.
Imam Ashour had left the Zamalek in January to join FC Midtjylland in Denmark, but he expressed his desire not to continue with the team and preferred to return to the Egyptian league.
Zamalek had previously refused to take back the player, and Mortada Mansour, the club’s ousted president who oversees the contracting committee, told the team’s fans: “Collect $5 million to complete the deal with the player.”
Media reports linked Imam Ashour to Pyramids and Al-Ahly clubs, but the Pyramids denied any intention of being bought, as the Danish club paid no less than $3 million to acquire him in January.
As rumors circulated about Imam Ashour’s imminent move to join his arch-rivals Al-Ahly, Mortada Mansour commented, saying: “I got the player for 10 million and sold him for 90 million. I got what I deserved.” by the local currency.
However, journalists argued that Imam Ashour’s transfer to the Danish club has disregarded any future rights for Zamalek Club, especially the resale percentage. Ahmed Khairy commented in this regard: “Imam Ashour’s transfer to Al-Ahly shows how Zamalek is being sold and betrayed. Can a player like him be easily replaced? Will this situation pass smoothly? Something is not right.”
He continued: “This is not cleverness from Al-Ahly; it is a betrayal by those who manage Zamalek. Imam has been a key player, the best midfielder on the field. He renewed his contract with the committee, which means you don’t easily let go of a player like that and hand him over to the competitor who will become the best player for years.”
In the same context, Hany Essam said: “What is happening with Imam is a catastrophe by all standards, from the genius who planned and executed it. Starting from bringing the offer through their company, which they established two years ago and licensed it from the UAE, and now its office is in New Cairo. They included a 20% resale clause for the company, not for the club, in a historic precedent in any player’s contract.”
He continued: “Convincing the player all this time not to return and move to another club, of course, for the sake of getting the percentage. So, take the burden of the clause that gives us priority in case the player decides to return, but of course, there is no official offer to submit.”
امام لاعيب مهم ومكسب لاي فريق داخل افريقيا عموماً ومن اهم اللاعيبة او اهمهم في مركزه ..
بس طريقة رحيله ورفضه حتي تكملة الموسم عليها مليون علامة استفهام حتي رفض ان يكون في نسبة اعادة بيع للزمالك واتحطت للشركة الي مطلعاه دي بردو حاجة مش مفهومة !!
السبب في كل ده والي خطط و رسم لكل…— ahmedeid.14 (@14_ahmedeid) July 9, 2023
Ahmed Eid Abdel Malek, a former Zamalek player, said: “Imam Ashour is an important player and an asset to any team in Africa in general, and one of the most important players in his position. However, the manner of his departure and his refusal to continue until the end of the season raises many question marks, especially his refusal to include a resale percentage for Zamalek, which was instead given to the company that represents him, which is also incomprehensible!”
He added: “The reason behind all this, which was planned and drawn for all this, is someone who has never been a Zamalek fan, of course! Imam is certainly involved in the whole story, and he is not innocent either. The issue is not with anyone specifically; we are with Zamalek and its best interests, not with anyone who is currently present.”
Khaled El-Ghandour Turns to Al-Ahly
Zamalek media figure Khaled El-Ghandour did not engage in this matter and instead turned to talk about Al-Ahly Club’s deals through several posts on his Facebook account.
Khaled El-Ghandour said: “There is currently a scenario being prepared to announce the signing of the expected player, and it will be filmed, with a retired player present in the promo being filmed.”
In a subsequent tweet, Khaled El-Ghandour said, “Al-Ahly is in contact with Al-Taawoun to buy Mustafa Fathi, who is loaned to Pyramids.”
He did not miss the transfer of Imam Ashour to Al-Ahly, and he expressed his opinion, saying: “The deal will be concluded for $3.5 million, and there is a dispute over paying $2 million and scheduling the remaining amount due to the club’s need for dollar liquidity and the agreements between Amir Tawfik and Yahya Ali, the player’s agent, with the Danish club.”
