Hamza Barry is something of a contract rebel after souring negotiations with his current Croatian first division side Hajduk Split by turning down their new contract offer.
Split received their biggest let down late last year when the Gambian told his club coach and board he won’t signing a new deal.
The revelation sure had a devastating impact as it meant Split learning to make do without the former Gambia Ports Authority midfielder whose services they’ve enjoyed the last four football seasons.
Actually, the one-time Samger FC trialist would have departed last June when his contract would have officially elapsed but the break induced by the coronavirus delayed his anticipated exit.
Fifa passed a rule for all players whose contracts were due to end before the coronavirus pandemic emerged to have their deals renewed at least till end of the current season.
Croatia Premier League fell in this category translating as Hamza having to stay put. His employers will have to swiftly adjust to seeing the last of this prodigal son who rose to a vice-captain and whom fans have warmed to for his ingenuity in midfield.
A particular club in Hungary’s top flight have been mooted to be interested in securing the Scorpion but that talk seemed to have cooled with latest suitors being Besiktas of Turkey.
However, an Istanbul move being engineered will hinge, rather peculiarly, on what becomes of Egypt international Mohamed Elneny who is there on loan until end of the season from English Premier League club Arsenal.
27-year-old North African was a surplus to requirements at Arsenal and was jettisoned off to make room for a new signing. It was also intended his departure from London would help accord him the game time to rediscover the form that eluded him at The Emirates – an initiative that has paid off after he played and started all but seven games of Besiktas.
Arsenal are not willing to part with money owing to the melt down sweeping the world’s economy and it will mean business well executed to have the Egyptian return to The Gunners at this crucial hour.
That theory coming to practicality will force Beksitas looking elsewhere for Mohamed’s replacement and Hamza stands to scoop the advantage as reports link the Gambia international to the Turkish giants.
This happening should delight Hamza for one reason -attaining dream of playing in one of Europe’s top-five leagues but dependent on the guaranteed condition that he gets to play regularly there.
Croatia’s Hadjuk Split would be the losers in this equation considering they couldn’t auction off the Nusrat Senior Secondary School graduate before the deal binding them reached its expiry date.
