FC Nantes manager Michel Der Zakarian has revealed he has been unable to contact forward Mostafa Mohamed, who has not reported for training since the team’s return on June 24th. The 28-year-old Egyptian international has been absent as the club prepares for its Ligue 2 campaign following relegation last season.
Der Zakarian addressed the situation in a press conference ahead of Nantes’ friendly match against Lorient on Saturday, stating, “We don’t know where he is. We call him, sometimes he doesn’t answer. It’s the club that calls, I haven’t called him. There’s no response sometimes.” He further clarified that Mohamed is not currently being paid due to his absence and placed the responsibility for the situation firmly on the player. “The guy doesn’t want to come to work, it’s his fault, not ours. If he doesn’t want to train, he stays at home.”
Mohamed, who has earned 61 caps for Egypt, scoring 14 goals, was not part of the national team’s squad for the recent World Cup. Nantes have confirmed that the player is facing financial sanctions as a result of his failure to report for duty. The club secured a 5-0 victory over Fleury in their first friendly of the pre-season, a match Mohamed did not feature in.
Following that match, Der Zakarian commented on the inconsistencies within modern football, attributing Mohamed’s actions as a personal decision. He stated that the club would wait to see if and when Mohamed returns. Mohamed joined Nantes in 2023 and has scored 29 goals in 136 appearances across all competitions for the club. He currently has one year remaining on his contract. The situation casts doubt on Mohamed’s future at the club and could potentially lead to a transfer if a resolution cannot be reached.
Nantes will be hoping to resolve the situation quickly as they prepare for life back in Ligue 2, aiming for an immediate return to the top flight. The absence of a key attacking player like Mohamed will undoubtedly be felt if his absence continues throughout the pre-season and into the competitive campaign.
