Dinamo Zagreb (foto: Getty Images)
Moroccan defender Samy Mmaee has been removed from Dinamo Zagreb’s first team and will train separately, raising questions about his future at the club.
Samy Mmaee, the 28-year-old Moroccan defender, has been indefinitely removed from Dinamo Zagreb’s first team, sources from the club confirm. Mmaee will now train separately from the squad, following a decision by head coach Nenad Bjelica, who excluded him from the lineup for Dinamo’s match against Borussia Dortmund.
At the post-match press conference, Bjelica explained the situation:
"There was an incident I didn’t like. I decided he wasn’t ready for the game. We’ll handle this internally. Everyone at the club is informed about what happened. No player on this planet is more important than the club, especially not more than Dinamo. In our current situation, dealing with injuries and fatigue, there’s no room for any player’s ego," said Bjelica.
Mmaee’s absence hasn’t disrupted the team’s atmosphere, but the situation casts serious doubt on whether he’ll play for Dinamo again. The defender joined the Croatian champions this summer on a free transfer from Ferencváros, signing a contract until 2028 with an annual salary of €840,000.
Initially a regular starter under former coach Sergej Jakirović, Mmaee’s performances have come under scrutiny. After poor showings in heavy defeats to Bayern Munich (9-2) and Slaven Belupo (4-1), Mmaee suffered a minor injury. Upon his return, he featured in Dinamo’s 4-2 loss to Osijek, after which he has not played a single minute. To date, he has made 11 appearances for the club.
Mmaee’s indefinite sidelining raises speculation about his future at Dinamo, with fans and pundits alike questioning whether he’ll ever return to the team.