Let’s stop treating African footballers as commodities: Kamara reacts after Sarr and Camara’s failed transfer move

Diomansy Kamara, the agent representing Ismaïla Sarr and Lamine Camara, has condemned football clubs for treating African players as commodities and not as individuals.

The comments follow a chaotic transfer deadline day during which Sarr’s desired move to Liverpool was blocked by Crystal Palace and Camara’s £47million move from AS Monaco to Chelsea collapsed.

Reacting via his official Instagram account on Wednesday morning, Kamara stated that footballers deserve full respect for their careers and a greater say in decisions regarding their future.

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‘All the cases of Ismaila Sarr and Lamine Camara must question us.

“We have to get out of this logic in which the African player can sometimes give the feeling that he is just a commodity: you buy him, you set his price, you negotiate his future and, all too often, your will seems to take a backseat.

‘Our African players deserve respect. Respect for your work. Respect for your career. Respecting your ambitions. Respect for their voices.

“A transfer should not just be a matter of two clubs and numbers. Behind every contract there is a man, a career, dreams and life options.

“The fact that sometimes clubs can have the last word is a reality of professional football. But one question remains: what happens to the player’s career and will?

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‘The player must be able to be heard and respected in the decisions that determine his future.

“Let us never forget what is important: behind every success, it is the players who first write the history.”