Mustafa Mohamed forced to train with Nantes reserves after late return and pay row

Egypt striker Mustafa Mohamed has been ordered to train with Nantes’ reserve team “until further notice” after returning late from his summer break and being denied his salary by the French club.

The 28-year-old finally reappeared at Nantes’ training centre earlier this week, weeks after he was expected back on 24 June, according to French daily Ouest-France.

Mohamed, who was omitted from Egypt’s 2026 World Cup qualifying squad by new national coach Hossam Hassan, took part in an individual session on Wednesday, away from the first team, who are currently on a week-long training camp in La Baule.

Nantes, relegated last season to Ligue 2, have taken a hard line with the former Zamalek forward, withholding his wages during his absence and now demoting him from the senior group.

Daily warnings and unpaid wages

The report says Nantes had been sending Mohamed a daily message since 24 June informing him he would not be paid until he reported back to the club’s training ground.

His unexplained delay left officials “in the dark” about his whereabouts and contributed to growing tensions between player and club.

When asked about the situation, head coach Michel Der Zakarian reacted angrily, making clear he held Mohamed responsible for the standoff.

“The player does not want to come to training, that is his problem, not ours. If he doesn’t want to train, let him stay at home,” said Der Zakarian, who previously managed Montpellier.

Club sources told Ouest-France that, following his return, Mohamed will now train with Nantes’ second team, with no fixed date for a possible reintegration into the first-team squad.

Uncertain future after pay cut and relegation

Mohamed has made no secret of his wish to leave Nantes this summer, particularly after his salary was reduced following the club’s drop into France’s second tier.

Relegation has forced the eight-time French champions to cut costs, and while Mohamed remains under contract, his standing within the squad appears to have diminished sharply.

From the club’s perspective, however, any departure is likely to be conditional on receiving a transfer fee.

“From its side, the French club, crowned champions eight times, is not counting much on Mustafa Mohamed to lead the promotion push back to Ligue 1,” Ouest-France reported, “but it does not intend to let him go for free after signing him for €6.5m from Galatasaray in 2023.”

Few offers on the table

Despite his desire to move on, interest in Mohamed is described as limited.

“With that said, the offers are not plentiful for the Egyptian striker, who has only one year left on his contract,” the paper added.

Mohamed’s situation is further complicated by his recent exclusion from the Egypt national team. New Pharaohs coach Hossam Hassan chose not to call him up for the latest round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers, a move widely interpreted as a blow to the forward’s international prospects.

The combination of a strained club relationship, a reduced role at Nantes, a pay cut and national team disappointment leaves Mohamed facing an uncertain future, with pre-season already under way and the Ligue 2 campaign fast approaching.

For now, one of African football’s better-known forwards finds himself training apart from the main squad, waiting for either a way back into Der Zakarian’s plans – or for a club willing to meet Nantes’ demands to take him away from western France.