Moroccan defender Mahmoud Bentayk has turned down a lucrative offer from Libyan club Al-Ittihad worth $9m over three years, choosing to remain with Egyptian side Zamalek and focus on his sporting career.
According to Africa Foot, the 26-year-old was offered a contract worth $3m per season for three years, which would have earned him $9m over the full duration of the proposed deal.
The financial package was also accompanied by the interest of Tunisian coach Faouzi Benzarti, who was keen to complete the move and work with Bentayk.
However, the Moroccan full-back opted against the transfer, placing greater importance on his development and competitive ambitions with Zamalek than the financial benefits of the Libyan proposal.
Bentayk believes remaining at Zamalek will provide him with a better environment to continue improving while competing at a high level. He also hopes that regular performances for the Egyptian club will strengthen his chances of returning to a more prominent role with the Moroccan national team.
His international ambitions appear to have played a significant part in the decision. Bentayk is seeking to produce strong performances for Zamalek and establish himself more firmly in the Atlas Lions squad, making the substantial financial offer from Al-Ittihad insufficient to change his plans.
Bentayk began his professional career with Ittihad Sportif before joining Raja Casablanca in July 2022. He spent one season with the Moroccan club and made 32 appearances in all competitions, including 24 matches in the Moroccan league and eight in the African Champions League. He scored twice during that period.
His performances for Raja attracted attention from Europe and led to a move to Saint-Étienne in August 2023. Bentayk made 23 appearances for the French club’s first team, 21 of them in the French second division, and scored once. He also spent some time with the reserve side.
In August 2024, Bentayk moved to Zamalek on loan with an option for the Egyptian club to buy him permanently. He made 28 appearances in his first season across all competitions, scoring two goals and providing three assists.
Those performances helped convince Zamalek to exercise the purchase option in the summer of 2025, making his move permanent.
The club’s decision to retain Bentayk has since been reinforced by his contribution to their success. During his time with Zamalek, he helped the team win the African Super Cup and Egyptian Cup in the 2024-25 season, before also claiming the Egyptian League title in the 2025-26 campaign.
Bentayk also added an international honour to his record after winning the Arab Cup with Morocco in 2025.
He made his Morocco debut that year and featured in four matches during the Arab Cup, playing a total of 98 minutes.
With Zamalek, Bentayk has continued to play an important role. The latest available figures show that he has started five Egyptian League matches, completing 450 minutes and registering three assists.
His decision to reject Al-Ittihad’s offer therefore represents a clear preference for sporting progress over financial reward. Rather than accepting a three-year deal worth $9m, Bentayk has chosen to continue his career with Zamalek while seeking to improve his chances of returning to a regular place in the Moroccan national team.
For the Moroccan defender, the immediate priority remains his sporting future with Zamalek rather than the financial attraction of moving to Libya.
