A source at Zamalek Club revealed the reasons behind the club's board approval for Mohamed Hamad, a youth team player, to undergo a trial period with Portuguese club Benfica.
Mohamed Hamad
Club: Zamalek
Young Zamalek player Mohamed Hamad will travel to Portugal to complete a trial period with Benfica Club.
The source stated in exclusive remarks to FilGoal.com that Zamalek's approval came due to Benfica's insistence on having the player complete a trial period in Portugal.
Clarifying concerns about releasing a player despite the registration suspension ban and inability to sign new contracts, the source said: "Zamalek Club does not stand in the way of its White Castle sons achieving their ambitions."
He added, "Such opportunities reflect positively on the club and the football sector, especially when a player receives an invitation to undergo a trial at a major club like Benfica."
The source continued, "This is not the first time Zamalek has approved youth academy players undergoing trials at European clubs; previously, more than one player was approved for trials at various European clubs."
Praising the Zamalek player, he said, "Mohamed Hamad is among the promising talents in the youth academy. When a player receives such an opportunity, the club will not object, especially given a major club like Benfica requesting the player's trial. This matter is not as some portray it regarding abandoning the team's stars."
He concluded, "The trial period represents a great opportunity for the player to experience something new and be in different environments. If he proves himself, this will be positive for the player, Zamalek Club, and the football sector at the White Castle."
Mohamed Hamad excelled with the Egypt U-20 national team and was promoted to Zamalek's first team.
The 18-year-old Mohamed Hamad participated in Zamalek's match against Al-Ittihad as a substitute for Ahmed Sherif in the 79th minute, in a game that ended in a goalless draw during the first round of the league.
Hamad won the North African Championship with the Egypt youth national team after defeating Libya 7-1 in the final match.
Hamad scored two goals against Libya, then led the Egypt national team to participate in the Africa U-17 Cup, followed by the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Mohamed Hamad belongs to the generation of Egypt's youth national team that also includes Hamza Abdel Karim, Barcelona striker, and Bilal Atia, loaned from Al-Ahly to Spanish club Racing Santander.
