Diomansy Kamara, agent to Crystal Palace and Senegal forward Ismaila Sarr, has demanded greater respect for African players, insisting that footballers must have a stronger voice in decisions affecting their careers.
Kamara, a former Senegal international, made the call while reflecting on the transfer situations involving Sarr and fellow Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara.
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His comments have reignited debate over the treatment of African footballers in the transfer market, particularly when negotiations between clubs overshadow the preferences and ambitions of the players involved.
In a post shared by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X on Wednesday, Kamara argued that African players deserved recognition not only for their performances but also for their career aspirations.
“Our African players deserve respect. The respect of their work. The respect of their career. Respecting their ambitions. The respect of their voices,” Kamara said.
The former Senegal forward criticised what he described as a culture in which footballers can sometimes be treated primarily as financial assets, with clubs determining transfer fees and negotiating their futures while the players’ wishes receive less attention.
Kamara stressed that transfer negotiations should involve more than financial calculations and agreements between clubs.
“A transfer shouldn’t just be a matter of two clubs and numbers. Behind every contract, there’s a man, a career, dreams and life choices,” he said.
While acknowledging that clubs can have significant authority over transfer decisions under professional football regulations, Kamara questioned whether players are given sufficient consideration when their futures are being determined.
He called for footballers to have a meaningful voice in decisions that could shape the direction of their careers.
“The player must be able to be heard and respected in the decisions that determine his future,” he added.
Kamara also stressed the central role of players in the development and history of football, arguing that their performances ultimately define the achievements celebrated by clubs, supporters and the wider sport.
“Let’s never forget what’s important: behind every success, it’s the players who write history first,” he said.
His comments come amid heightened activity in the European transfer market, where African players continue to feature prominently for leading clubs but often remain at the centre of negotiations involving substantial transfer fees.
Sarr, who plays for Crystal Palace and represents Senegal, has established himself as an important figure for both club and country.
Camara is also regarded as one of Senegal’s emerging talents.
Kamara’s intervention therefore goes beyond the individual cases involving his clients, raising a broader question about whether players, particularly African footballers, should have greater influence over decisions that can determine where they play, how their careers develop and what opportunities become available to them.
For Kamara, respect for players should extend beyond their value on the pitch or in the transfer market.
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It should also include their ambitions, personal choices and the right to have their voices heard when major decisions about their futures are being made.
