Former Senegal international Diomansy Kamara has criticised how African players are treated during football transfers.
Kamara, who represents Crystal Palace forward Ismaïla Sarr, spoke after proposed moves involving Sarr and Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara collapsed.
Liverpool reportedly submitted a bid for Sarr, but Crystal Palace rejected it.
Palace considered the 28-year-old an important player and did not want to sell him late in the transfer window.
Sarr reportedly wanted the move and felt disappointed by the club’s decision.
Liverpool did not submit another offer on deadline day after deciding to keep Cody Gakpo.
Camara was close to joining Chelsea for £47 million.
Chelsea and Monaco reportedly reached a written agreement. The 22-year-old also completed a medical in France and was preparing to travel to London.
However, Monaco stopped the transfer after Everton renewed negotiations to sign Folarin Balogun for £40 million.
Balogun later rejected the Everton move after concerns arose during his medical. Camara’s Chelsea transfer was not revived before the deadline.
Reacting to both situations, Kamara said African players deserve more respect.
“The cases of Ismaila Sarr and Lamine Camara must all interrogate us,” he said.
“We have to get out of this logic where the African player can sometimes give the feeling that he is just a commodity: you buy it, you set its price, you negotiate its future and, too often, your will seems to go to the background.”
Kamara said clubs should consider players’ careers, ambitions and personal choices when negotiating transfers.
“Our African players deserve respect. The respect of their work. The respect of their career. Respecting their ambitions. The respect of their voices,” he added.
Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro defended the club’s decision.
He said Monaco informed Chelsea that the Camara deal would stop when Everton appeared ready to complete the Balogun transfer.
Neither Sarr nor Camara secured a move before the transfer window closed.
