Hossam El-Mandouh, treasurer of Zamalek SC and member of the Egyptian House of Representatives, has hinted at raising the issue of football players’ contracts before parliament after questioning the reported figures surrounding Ahmed Sayed “Zizo’s” contract with Al Ahly compared to the financial demands he made to his former club.
El-Mandouh’s remarks come amid ongoing debate between the two giants of Egyptian football regarding the details of Zizo’s free transfer to Al Ahly following the expiration of his Zamalek contract in the summer of 2025.
El-Mandouh Questions Reported Figures
The Zamalek treasurer explained that he finds it difficult to comprehend how a player could demand approximately EGP 80 million annually to renew his contract with his former club, only for reports to emerge that his new contract was registered with his new club at a value not exceeding EGP 5 million.
El-Mandouh confirmed that his comments explicitly targeted Zizo, asserting that the stark disparity between the two figures necessitates a full review of player contract filings across Egyptian clubs—especially following statements attributed to Hany Abou Rida, President of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), regarding the existence of both compliant and non-compliant contracts.
While the Zamalek official stressed that he was not making a direct accusation against Al Ahly or the player, he maintained that the matter raises significant questions that warrant investigation by competent authorities.
He also referenced the possibility of submitting a formal request for discussion within the House of Representatives, citing parliament’s oversight duties and what he described as the issue’s connection to public funds.
At the time of making these statements, El-Mandouh had not filed an official parliamentary motion, indicating that the move remains a warning shot rather than the commencement of a formal legislative inquiry.
In response, a source within Al Ahly addressed El-Mandouh’s comments, emphasizing that the published figures regarding Zizo’s contract do not reflect the full picture and that additional financial clauses and terms remain undisclosed to the public.
The source added that Al Ahly has no intention of engaging in public disputes with Zamalek officials over the contract’s value or past negotiations, noting that the player’s transfer was executed according to technical and administrative planning and formalized through an official agreement between both parties.
The current contracting framework distinguishes between the unified sports contract registered with the EFA and secondary commercial agreements, such as sponsorship rights, advertising, and image rights.
