Zamalek Eyes a Payroll Reset: Veteran Keeper Mohamed Awad in the Market

Zamalek Signals a Keeper Shake-Up, Pride and Payroll on the Line

The White Club is marketing the veteran goalkeeper.

A source inside Zamalek confirmed, on Thursday, that John Edward, the club's sporting director, is currently working to market Mohamed Awad, the White Knights' goalkeeper, ahead of his move from the club.

The source said in exclusive statements to Koora that the Zamalek administration believes that releasing Awad will not negatively affect the team, especially given strong alternatives in the goalkeeping position.

Currently, Zamalek relies on two main goalkeepers: Mohamed Sobhy and Mahdi Suleiman, along with the young goalkeeper Mahmoud El-Shennawy.

The source added that the motive behind this decision is not purely technical but financial, as club officials see Awad as one of the players with large contracts in the first category within the team; having this large contract represents a financial burden on the club.

He noted that this comes at a time when Zamalek's board is trying to reduce the wage bill amid the club's severe economic crisis.

The marketing process comes amid disagreements between Awad and Ahmed Abdel-Raouf, the team's coach, which have escalated after Awad was excluded from the squad for the Kaizer Chiefs match due to the goalkeeper's objection to not being played as a starter.

The technical staff decided to rely on Mohamed Sobhy in the starting lineup for that match, with Mahmoud El-Shennawy as the sole substitute in the goalkeeper position.

Punchline 1: Boom—this transfer saga is sponsored by payrolls; the only thing scoring is the joke rate.

Punchline 2: Sniper’s verdict: in football, even a rumor can survive a crossbar—so we laugh and wait for the next update.