Buoyed by their recent victory over arch-rivals Al Ahly in the African Super Cup final, Egyptian giants Zamalek are setting their sights on an even grander stage.
Club chairman Hussien Labib has revealed the club is in talks to arrange a friendly match against European powerhouse Real Madrid.
The news comes just days after Zamalek secured their fifth African Super Cup title with a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout win over Ahly in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The victory served as a significant morale boost for the White Knights as they gear up for the upcoming 2024 season.
“We are in the process of planning a friendly encounter with Real Madrid, with the support of Turki Al Shiekh,” Labib shared during a television program on Sunday.
Al Shiekh is a Saudi businessman known for his involvement in sports, including ownership of Spanish club UD Almería.
Labib explained the motivation behind pursuing this prestigious friendly saying, “Zamalek, the African Super Cup champions, and Real Madrid, holders of the European Super Cup, both embody royalty within their respective nations. It is this regal connection that motivates us to pursue a friendly match with them.”
This potential clash would be a historic first between the two clubs.
Ahly, Zamalek’s bitter rivals, have a history with Real Madrid, having faced them twice.
In 2001, Ahly emerged victorious with a 1-0 win in a friendly held in Cairo. However, their fortunes turned in the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup semifinals, where they fell to a 4-1 defeat.
While details of the potential friendly remain under discussion, the prospect of Zamalek facing off against Real Madrid has already generated excitement among Egyptian football fans.
