"El Mama" causing chaos
https://www.express.de/sport/fussball/1-fc-koeln/wirbel-um-said-el-mala-so-gefaehrlich-ist-el-mama-fuer-den-fc-1294188
Controversy surrounding Said
How dangerous is "El Mama" for FC – what's going on with BVB?
1. FC Köln has a real gem in their squad in Said El Mala. But selling him isn't so easy, because his family plays a big role.
The negotiations were in their final stages! 1. FC Köln was preparing for the biggest transfer in the club's history. Said El Mala (19) was set to join FC Brentford in the Premier League for around 50 million euros.
This would shatter Cologne's previous transfer record. Anthony Modeste moved to Chinese club TJ Tianhai for €29 million in the 2018/19 season. The most expensive departure, Lukas Podolski, brought FC Cologne around €15 million in 2012.
Sabrina El Mala takes care of the business and embarrasses 1. FC Köln.
These transfers still remain at the top of FC Köln's transfer list. This is partly because Sabrina El Mala suddenly vetoed them. On Thursday (June 4, 2026), she called off Said's almost finalized move to Brentford. She's a relative unknown in the industry, but she's certainly shaking things up. What makes "El Mama," as she's known around the club, tick? One thing is clear: she's a dangerous player!
She's known as a fiercely protective mother who thinks only of her family and keeps them all together. The fact that her sons Malek (21) and Said (19) moved into a shared apartment in Cologne to pursue their football careers was, of course, an emotional experience for her. Almost every mother is sad when her beloved children move out. Sabrina lives with her husband Mohammed, nicknamed Moped, in the Krefeld area.
Father Mohammed comes from Lebanon and is considered an extremely relaxed and sociable person. "Moped" played for a long time as a defender for Linner SV (a district of Krefeld). He also introduced his sons to football there.
For the first five years of their careers, Said and Malek were coached by Hakan Namli. The coach knows how the family operates. He explained to Sport1 how significant the parents' influence is: "Especially in their upbringing. The parents are completely normal people. Incredibly down-to-earth, loving people. Their father also played here at Linner SV, up to the Landesliga (regional league)."
As her sons became increasingly successful and the hype surrounding Said grew, Sabrina showed her true colors in recent months. She seized control of everything and parted ways with her long-time advisor. Initially, she wanted nothing to do with offers from England; she wanted her children to stay close.
In February 2026, "El Mama" founded El Mala Vermögensverwaltungs KG, a limited partnership based in Krefeld. This limited partnership now manages all aspects of the financial and business management of the footballers' careers. Sabrina, who once worked part-time at the reception desk of a dental practice, manages the business as a partner.
She entered the football industry without any prior experience and has been making waves for several months now. Understandably, she only has her family's interests at heart, which is extremely dangerous for 1. FC Köln. Her relationships with two clubs have already been damaged. Brighton wanted to buy Said for around €35 million. The deal reportedly fell through due to her high signing bonus demands.
And now, to everyone's surprise, Sabrina has called off the €50 million deal with Brentford at the last minute . There could be a plan behind this that FC Köln won't like at all! Sabrina El Mala now has a concrete €80 million package for Said, with his market value officially listed at €50 million. Her son would have earned a total of €30 million in base salary at Brentford over a five-year contract. All parties involved had actually reached an agreement!
Said El Mala: Rumors surrounding Borussia Dortmund
The fact that "El Mama" vetoed the deal shortly before its finalization demonstrates to all parties that she alone decides where Said goes. 1. FC Köln, with negotiators Tim Steidten and Thomas Kessler, was effectively humiliated by her, as all clubs saw that the club lacks control over the family and that close coordination is not taking place. Interested clubs now know who's in charge and who to contact.
The El Mala plan: Negotiations are underway with other clubs, reportedly including some from the Premier League. But according to information from EXPRESS.de, a move to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga is also conceivable. Said gets along very well with Nico Schlotterbeck – and it's rumored in the football world that BVB is known for paying more in signing bonuses and salaries than in transfer fees.
Sabrina (who doesn't speak English) is currently negotiating with interested clubs. Does she want to see her children in Dortmund? The shrewd businessman Kerem Bul (who played with "Moped" El Mala in the Linner SV veterans' team) is also said to be helping out within the family circle.
He is also said to have ties to agent Roger Wittmann. The total package of €80 million (€50 million transfer fee and €30 million salary) for Said is finalized. However, the family can try to adjust the figures during negotiations. This means, for example, that FC Köln would receive only €30 million in transfer fees, while the El Mala family would receive €50 million in salary and signing bonuses.
The fact is: By cancelling the deal shortly before the Brentford agreement, Sabrina "El Mama" made it crystal clear to FC Köln who decides. And who will profit most from the deal.
FC Köln's concerns: The mother would prefer to have her sons nearby. Dortmund is not far from Krefeld. Said could play Champions League football there. BVB agreed to a top salary with El Malas and offered FC Köln only around €25 million for the star player.
FC Köln remains calm, pointing to Said's contract until 2030, which has no release clause. Of course, FC Köln isn't obligated to sell the youngster even with a €25 million offer. But nobody wants an unhappy player in their squad either.
