The Saudi newspaper "Asharq Al-Awsat" reported that Moroccan striker Karim Al-Barkawi, who plays for Al-Raed Saudi, has officially signed a contract to join Zamalek, starting next season, in a free transfer deal. The agreement between Zamalek's management and the player makes Al-Barkawi one of the key reinforcements the team will rely on in the upcoming season.
Al-Barkawi had been close to joining Zamalek during the last summer transfer window, with serious negotiations taking place between the two parties. However, Al-Raed's management unexpectedly intervened and insisted on renewing the player's contract, causing him to return to the Saudi team with a new one-year deal. Despite this, Al-Barkawi's desire to move to Zamalek remained strong, and the club continued to hope for a deal. This hope was realized with the recent agreement among all parties.
In the same context, the newspaper reported that Zamalek's management did not stop with Al-Barkawi's signing alone. They also activated another agreement with Al-Raed's management to buy the remaining period of Algerian player Yassir Bouzouk's contract. Bouzouk joined Al-Raed in the winter transfer window on a 1.5-year deal. Although Bouzouk had the opportunity to play regularly for Al-Raed, he did not meet the expectations of the fans, leading Zamalek's management to act and sign him for future reinforcement.
On the other hand, Al-Raed faces a difficult situation as it struggles with the possibility of relegation to the "Yellow" first division, which threatens the stability of the team. The crisis deepens as the season ends, with many players, both foreign and local, preferring to move to other clubs instead of staying with a team that may play in a lower division next season. This represents a major challenge for Al-Raed's management, which will face significant pressure in the coming hours to retain key players and ensure they do not lose them before the team's future in the league is decided.
Currently, Al-Raed occupies the last position in the Saudi Pro League standings with 21 points, 9 points behind the safety zone, which puts their position in real danger if the negative results continue. Al-Raed still has some decisive matches in the league, including the upcoming match against Al-Hilal in Buraidah, which is seen as a crucial point for the team's future this season. If they lose, the team's situation will become more complicated, and the coaching staff will have to make decisions regarding the future lineup in a last-ditch effort to stay in the Pro League.
Meanwhile, signing Al-Barkawi is an important step for Zamalek, which aims to strengthen its squad with key players ahead of the next season. Al-Barkawi, considered one of the best strikers in the Saudi Pro League, will provide great offensive power to the club, especially as Zamalek seeks to compete for domestic and international titles. This deal is part of the club's efforts to reinforce the attack and achieve the right balance between local and foreign players, aligning with the ambitions of Zamalek fans to return to winning trophies.
With the successful signing of Al-Barkawi, Zamalek will rely heavily on him to deliver an outstanding performance next season, especially as the club continues to strengthen its squad with other names. This move reflects Zamalek's strategy of seeking experienced players who can handle the pressures of major matches and contribute effectively to achieving the team's ambitions in both the Egyptian Premier League and the African competition.
For his part, Al-Barkawi will face a new challenge in his professional career with Zamalek, where he will need to adapt to the club's atmosphere and passionate fans, who are eager to see a new star succeed at the club. With the start of the next season, Al-Barkawi will have a real opportunity to prove himself as one of the top strikers in the Egyptian league and continue his successful career in Arab football.
For Zamalek's management, strengthening the squad with Al-Barkawi is a strategic move in the context of competing for domestic and continental titles and meeting the aspirations of the fans in the upcoming period.
