Mortada shows El-Said’s contract with Zamalek

CAIRO – 17 March 2018: Zamalek President Mortada Mansour held a press conference on Saturday at Zamalek SC’s headquarters in the Mohandessin district to reveal the crisis of the “Signing of the Century”.


FILE – Mortada Mansour press conference at Zamalek club


It has been confirmed that Abdallah El-Said was Zamalek’s “Signing of the Century”, but Al-Ahly interfered and renewed their player’s contract after his meeting on Monday, March 12 with Turki Al-Sheikh, Al-Ahly’s Saudi honorary president, who managed to persuade him to sign a two-year contract.

His contract renewal came after weeks of speculation, with Mansour claiming that the Egyptian international was on the verge of joining the White Castles.

Mansour held a press conference to clarify what happened. El-Said was reportedly linked to a possible move to Zamalek SC, but everything turned upside down when he renewed his contract with Al-Ahly on Tuesday, March 13.

The first contract for El-Said with Al-Ahly ends in June, so Zamalek wanted to sign him during the legal period, which is the last six months of his contract with Al-Ahly.

Mortada was outraged at Al-Ahly’s announcement and decided to reveal some facts concerning El-Said’s situation. He assured that El-Said signed a contract with Zamalek and he showed a picture of El-Said with Zamalek’s football committee members, Ahmed Mortada Mansour, Ismail Youssef and Amir Mortada Mansour.



From left to right Ismail Youssef, Abdallah El-Said, Ahmed Mortada Mansour, Amir Mortada Mansour – Courtesy of Ahmed Mortada Mansour’s official Twitter account

Mortada showed the picture in front of Zamalek SC’s members and the committee of the Youth and Sports Ministry.

The case all started when Zamalek announced through its official website that Mansour was soon to reveal the “Signing of the Century” and included some hints, including that it was an African player who is set to play in the next World Cup with his national team. He also stated that the club paid LE 40 million ($2.3 million) to include the player in Zamalek’s squad next season.



FILE – Mortada Mansour press conference at Zamalek club

It has been confirmed that Abdallah El-Said was the “Signing of the Century”, but Al-Ahly interfered and renewed their player’s contract after his meeting with Turki Al-Sheikh.

“I have four copies of Abdallah’s contract, and he signed all of them. His release clause is $100 million and I will get them. I am the real lion; so you should pay Said’s release clause,” Mansour addressed Turki Al-Sheikh.



FILE – Mortada Mansour press conference at Zamalek club


“El-Said signed his renewal contracts with Al-Ahly under duress,” Mortada said.

“Who said that Ahmed Fathy didn’t negotiate with Zamalek? Ask Sayed Marey [Ahmed Fathy’s agent], as we had several meetings together concerning Said’s and Fathy’s signing,” Mortada added.

Al Ahly right back, signed a new contract worth LE 14 million with Al Ahly; he will get LE 7 million for each season.

The player has agreed to renew with Al Ahly for two seasons, amid rumors that the player might leave the club due to disagreements over the terms of the new contract.


FILE – Mortada Mansour press conference at Zamalek club

Zamalek’s president claimed that El-Khatib, Al-Ahly’s president, had a meeting with Zamalek goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shennawy three days before the top match between Al-Ahly and Zamalek held on January 8.

At the end of the press conference, Mortada showed El-Said contracts with Zamalek as he promised to show it to the press on the right time.


FILE – El-Said's contract with Zamalek





Al-Ahly’s board responded to their fans’ outrage and decided to begin negotiations over the transfer of El-Said, whether for loan or permanent transfer from clubs abroad.