Zamalek at a Crossroads: Bentayik Contract, October Land, and a Bold Plan for a Football Company

Update from Zamalek: Bentayik, the October land, and a new football venture

Hesham Nasser, the vice chairman of Zamalek SC, acknowledged there are multiple issues inside the club. In televised remarks, he urged Zamalek’s fans, who have a stake in the club, not to believe the rumors circulating on social media. Nasser also addressed the foreign-player situation, explaining that Moroccan Mouhammad Bentayik has not yet officially terminated his contract unilaterally; rather, his move was a legal action by his lawyer to recover overdue payments, which the club is actively seeking to resolve.

From a legal standpoint, Bentayik cannot terminate his deal now, and the club says it will work to resolve the matter soon. On the October land dossier, Nasser stated that a resolution would be discussed next week, with the board vowing to fight to the last moment for the site.

Officials also said they had not received formal notice of any land withdrawal or replacement site; such reports were described as exploratory discussions rather than confirmed plans.

Beyond the land issue, Nasser said the club is pursuing the creation of a dedicated Zamalek football company. The aim is to separate sport from administration and make the football operation financially autonomous, with a decision likely within one or two weeks.

Nasser also conceded fault and admitted mistakes in the council’s work, stressing that nobody refused feasible solutions; he attributed errors to pressure. He insisted the club intends to continue its mission, warning that building and solving issues will not happen overnight, and that truth-telling to fans has too often been left behind.

He closed by saying he cannot gauge the odds of regaining October land because the decision lies with the state, and the club must stay prepared for every eventuality.

Punchline 1: If drama were a sniper’s target, Zamalek’s transfer saga would be a perfect headshot… but the target keeps moving.
Punchline 2: In football and headlines alike, the most reliable thing is that the press conference ends with a sequel—will there be a season two?