Zamalek’s board is preparing to make an important financial decision as the club waits for a new payment from the transfer of Brazilian winger Juan Bezerra to Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE.

Zamalek are expected to receive around $3 million in the coming days as part of the deal. Other media reports have put the financial return connected to the transfer at around $5 million, which suggests that the amount expected now is a payment from the deal rather than necessarily the full value.

The money is arriving at an important time for Zamalek. The club has delayed payments to first-team players, financial obligations in external cases, staff expenses, and funding needs for other sports teams.

First-Team Priority

Several ideas have been discussed inside Zamalek over how the new money should be used.

Sources close to the club have stressed that these discussions should not be seen as a serious dispute between board members. Instead, different members have presented different views on which financial files should receive priority.

Board member Hussein El Sayed has reportedly supported using most or all of the available money for the football team because of unpaid player dues and several financial cases that need to be settled.

Zamalek treasurer Hossam El Mandouh, meanwhile, has suggested giving part of the money to club employees to help cover salaries and general operating expenses.

Vice president Hisham Nasr has also asked for part of the money to support indoor and team sports at the club, which also have financial needs.

Other reports said Nasr had proposed allocating up to 30% of the financial return to other sports, while another group inside the club believes the football team should receive priority because of the size of its current obligations.

Sports presenter Ahmed Shobeir also said that the players’ unpaid dues will be one of the main issues discussed by the board.

According to Shobeir, the money expected from the Bezerra transfer is set to be used to pay the first-team players.

He also said that the players have been waiting for their money and have informed the club that they do not want the issue to continue beyond the Ghazl El Mahalla match.

That situation puts pressure on the board to find a quick solution and maintain stability inside the squad during a busy season.

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Major Financial Commitments

Zamalek’s financial problems, however, are not limited to the first-team players.

The club also has several external payments and settlements that need to be handled.

Reports say Swedish club IK is owed around $1.1 million in relation to the transfer of Palestinian player Omar Faraj.

Ukrainian club Oleksandriya is also reportedly owed around €200,000, in addition to another €300,000 installment due during September.

Moroccan club Ittihad Tanger is said to have around $200,000 in outstanding payments, while financial commitments connected to Abdelhamid Maali are estimated at close to $600,000.

Zamalek also have settlements connected to cases related to the club’s African licence. The total value of these settlements has been reported at around $4 million.

However, these payments are not expected to be made at once, as the club has agreements that allow the amounts to be paid through scheduled installments.

These commitments make the decision over Bezerra’s transfer money especially important.

Using most of the money for the football team could help Zamalek settle player dues and close some urgent financial cases. However, it would leave other departments of the club looking for new sources of funding.

Dividing the money between several departments could reduce financial pressure across the club, but it may also leave less cash available to solve the first-team payment issue quickly.

Zamalek’s board is expected to discuss all these options before deciding how the incoming payment will be used.

Despite reports of disagreements, sources inside the club say the situation is mainly a discussion over financial priorities and that a final decision has not yet been made.

For now, player dues, external debts, employee salaries and the needs of Zamalek’s other sports teams remain the main files waiting for a decision, while the Bezerra transfer money could give the club an important chance to reduce some of its financial pressure..