## FC Nantes: Losing Patience with Mostafa Mohamed
Relegated to Ligue 2 at the conclusion of a tumultuous 2025-2026 season, FC Nantes finds itself in a crucial phase of rebuilding. To usher in this new era away from the top tier of French football, the club management decided to call upon a familiar face: Michel Der Zakarian. Back at the helm since mid-June, the 63-year-old coach is already facing significant challenges, with the absence of striker Mostafa Mohamed (28) looming large.
### The Enigma of Mostafa Mohamed
Since the players returned to training on June 24, Mostafa Mohamed has been conspicuously missing, leaving both his coach and club in the dark. This situation has become a source of great frustration for Der Zakarian, who expressed disbelief at the forward’s behavior. “I’ve never seen that before! Today, we see a lot of things in football that are inconsistent. He was the one who decided to do this. We’ll see when he comes back,” he commented after a friendly match where the team performed well.
Despite the promising start to pre-season, a month has passed, and Mostafa Mohamed remains absent without communication. “We call him; sometimes he doesn’t answer,” Der Zakarian stated during a recent press conference. He emphasized that the responsibility lies with the player, saying, “If he doesn’t want to come to train, he stays at home.” The club has made it clear: without attendance, there won’t be any salary.
### The Ghost of the Squad: Where is Mostafa Mohamed?
So, is Mostafa Mohamed really at home, as Der Zakarian suggests? The forward has been largely silent on social media and his absence from the 2026 World Cup squad underscores this growing mystery. The situation has reached a level of unprecedented chaos for the Kita family, who have been at the helm of FC Nantes since 2007. Reports indicate that the club is sending him a letter daily, reiterating that he will not be paid as long as he remains AWOL.
### Future Uncertainty: What Lies Ahead?
With his contract set to expire in 2027, the Nantes management speculates that the Egyptian international may have a plan—though what that plan entails is unclear. As per sources, the club has not yet defined a sale price for the player, who has had a decent record at Nantes over 136 matches, netting 29 goals and providing 8 assists.
In addition to potential financial penalties, FC Nantes is contemplating sending Mohamed to train with the reserve team in National 2 once he decides to return. However, when—or if—that will happen remains uncertain. The ongoing deadlock leaves the club in a precarious position, grappling with rebuilding efforts while waiting for a ghost to return.
### Conclusion
As FC Nantes strives to reclaim its place in French football’s top tier, the enigmatic situation surrounding Mostafa Mohamed only adds to the challenges ahead. His future at the club hangs in the balance, and time is running out for both the player and the management. The question remains—will Mostafa Mohamed step back into the light, or will he continue to be the ghost that haunts FC Nantes?