Fresh Crisis at Zamalek: Salah Din Mesdaq Faces Unilateral Exit and FIFA Involvement
25 November 2025
Background
The Moroccan professional Salah Din Mesdaq’s dispute at Zamalek has deepened, with the player edging toward unilateral contract termination and a possible FIFA intervention due to delayed payments and a sense of outright neglect by club officials.
A close associate told kooora that Mesdaq filed a unilateral termination notice weeks ago and gave the club a 15-day window to respond and offer a solution, but there has been no reply from management during that period.
The crisis is not only about the unpaid wages; it also reflects Mesdaq’s feeling of being ignored as a professional in the squad and a lack of attention from the people handling the club’s football affairs.
Crisis Unfolds
Additionally, it was noted that an offer from Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca to sign Mesdaq at the start of the season was rejected because he was not granted opportunities to participate in matches, including the Confederation Cup games against Dikadaha of Somalia in the preliminary rounds.
The source added that Mesdaq feels particularly sidelined by Zamalek’s sporting director John Edward, especially after the 15-day window elapsed without contact, negotiation, or a proposed solution, making him feel completely out of the club’s plans.
He explained that if the contract is terminated unilaterally, Mesdaq would become a free agent and could file a FIFA complaint to claim the remaining value of his contract, estimated at around $900,000 to $1,000,000.
The unfolding crisis places Zamalek’s board under a fresh test, with the risk of losing the player for nothing and facing hefty financial penalties if the club fails to act swiftly.
Earlier, Abdel Nasser Mohammed confirmed to kooora that Mesdaq had issued a formal warning to Zamalek regarding his late payments, and that the club was handling the file according to standard procedures.
The club now faces the possibility of a new legal battle if a resolution is not reached, as Mesdaq’s notice is still active and waiting for a response from the administration.
In a broader context, FIFA has already stopped Zamalek from registering players in the upcoming transfer window due to five new issues raised within FIFA’s case files, with one additional case not previously on the radar requiring settlement of extra sums. This leaves Zamalek to resolve six cases urgently to lift the registration ban, a dire development given the winter window and the departure of coach Viera, along with notable gaps in multiple positions.
As the White Knights fall behind in the league and prepare for demanding Confederation Cup fixtures, continuing with the current squad could blunt ambitions. Management is reportedly seeking urgent financial resources to settle both old and new dues, potentially forcing the sale of some players to raise liquidity.
The FIFA decision marks a turning point for Zamalek this season, threatening to turn the winter transfer window into a new crisis at a time when stability was needed most.
Observers note that the club now has to engage quickly with the parties involved, begin settlement talks, and communicate transparently with a fanbase already agitated by the club’s broader management challenges.
Mesdaq joined Zamalek in the winter market last season from Moroccan club Nahda Zamatra, and his contract is reportedly due to run through the 2027-2028 season. He has appeared in 16 matches for Zamalek, totaling about 1,083 minutes, though he has not been a regular starter.
Impact and punchlines
Zamalek has endured another blow with FIFA’s registration ban looming over the club due to these ongoing issues. If unresolved, the club could face penalties and potentially lose Mesdaq for free, complicating an already tight winter window.
The situation continues to develop as the club seeks rapid resolution to prevent further financial exposure and to avoid the prospect of a high-stakes FIFA dispute that could redefine the player’s future with the team.
And to end on a lighter note: apparently, the only thing heavier than Zamalek’s bill is the silence from the board—yet even a mime would ask for a louder reply. Also, if chaos were a transfer market, Zamalek would be the coach who forgot to press the “open” button and then wondered why the assistant coach could not sign a player for them. Humor aside, the clock is ticking, and the squad needs clarity more than ever.
