Kermit Erasmus appears to have had an offer from Egyptian giants Zamalek.
But representatives of the Egyptian club appear to be going about it without using the correct channels‚ with apparently middlemen doing the talking to everybody but those who should be doing the deal.
Everyone who should have known something about it claimed they did not on Tuesday‚ in response to media reports in South Africa and Egypt that Zamalek have made a big offer for the 25-year-old Pirates striker.
A decision is now allegedly in Erasmus’ hands‚ depending on whether he can see himself playing in Egypt. The player’s Spanish-based agent‚ Rob Moore‚ however‚ said neither Zamalek or Pirates had been in contact with him regarding any proposed deal.
“I know nothing about it because Orlando Pirates have not informed me at all to ask if the player can speak to Zamalek. Until Pirates or Zamalek have informed me I cannot comment on that.
“I have heard something from people in the middle‚ but those people have nothing to do with Erasmus‚” Moore said.
Times Media‚ though‚ was informed that the Egyptian club have been interested in the former Feyenoord player who was the top scorer in all competitions in South Africa last season with 15 goals.
A source close to Pirates said the Cairo club sent their entire technical staff‚ including their coaching staff and technical director‚ especially to view Erasmus in Zamalek’s Caf Confederation Cup game against the Buccaneers in Nelspruit on Saturday.
The officials were present at the Egyptian club’s 2-1 group stages victory to evaluate the striker and each give their report- back on their view of Erasmus. The player had a quiet game and was replaced by Bucs’ scorer Lehlohonolo Majoro in the 67th minute‚ but apparently still did enough for his Egyptian watchers to decide that this was the player they want to sign.
With a year left on the player’s contract‚ after which he will leave for nothing as a free agent‚ and a figure of R20-million being bandied about‚ an offer might be attractive to Pirates.
But Bucs administrative officer Floyd Mbele laughed off that assertion and dismissed it as “rubbish”.
“I don’t know anything about that. That’s rubbish man. Who are they quoting‚ because this is the first I’ve heard of that?” Mbele said in response to several local and international websites claiming Bucs have agreed terms with Zamalek.
“What reason would Pirates have to do something like that? We are not a club for whom it is just about the money. If we wanted to make a profit like that from the player then surely we would have just have sold him to [Mamelodi] Sundowns.”
Erasmus scored 10 league goals last season. In two seasons he has scored 14 league goals in 53 starts for Bucs‚ and 20 in 69 in all competitions.
He was not part of Pirates’ 2013 run to the Caf Champions League final‚ where they played Egypt’s powerhouses‚ Zamalek and Al Ahly‚ a cumulative six times.
Zamalek R20m offer for Erasmus is ‘rubbish’‚ say Bucs
Kermit Erasmus appears to have had an offer from Egyptian giants Zamalek.
But representatives of the Egyptian club appear to be going about it without using the correct channels‚ with apparently middlemen doing the talking to everybody but those who should be doing the deal.
Everyone who should have known something about it claimed they did not on Tuesday‚ in response to media reports in South Africa and Egypt that Zamalek have made a big offer for the 25-year-old Pirates striker.
A decision is now allegedly in Erasmus’ hands‚ depending on whether he can see himself playing in Egypt. The player’s Spanish-based agent‚ Rob Moore‚ however‚ said neither Zamalek or Pirates had been in contact with him regarding any proposed deal.
“I know nothing about it because Orlando Pirates have not informed me at all to ask if the player can speak to Zamalek. Until Pirates or Zamalek have informed me I cannot comment on that.
“I have heard something from people in the middle‚ but those people have nothing to do with Erasmus‚” Moore said.
Times Media‚ though‚ was informed that the Egyptian club have been interested in the former Feyenoord player who was the top scorer in all competitions in South Africa last season with 15 goals.
A source close to Pirates said the Cairo club sent their entire technical staff‚ including their coaching staff and technical director‚ especially to view Erasmus in Zamalek’s Caf Confederation Cup game against the Buccaneers in Nelspruit on Saturday.
The officials were present at the Egyptian club’s 2-1 group stages victory to evaluate the striker and each give their report- back on their view of Erasmus. The player had a quiet game and was replaced by Bucs’ scorer Lehlohonolo Majoro in the 67th minute‚ but apparently still did enough for his Egyptian watchers to decide that this was the player they want to sign.
With a year left on the player’s contract‚ after which he will leave for nothing as a free agent‚ and a figure of R20-million being bandied about‚ an offer might be attractive to Pirates.
But Bucs administrative officer Floyd Mbele laughed off that assertion and dismissed it as “rubbish”.
“I don’t know anything about that. That’s rubbish man. Who are they quoting‚ because this is the first I’ve heard of that?” Mbele said in response to several local and international websites claiming Bucs have agreed terms with Zamalek.
“What reason would Pirates have to do something like that? We are not a club for whom it is just about the money. If we wanted to make a profit like that from the player then surely we would have just have sold him to [Mamelodi] Sundowns.”
Erasmus scored 10 league goals last season. In two seasons he has scored 14 league goals in 53 starts for Bucs‚ and 20 in 69 in all competitions.
He was not part of Pirates’ 2013 run to the Caf Champions League final‚ where they played Egypt’s powerhouses‚ Zamalek and Al Ahly‚ a cumulative six times.
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