Didier Lamkel Zé opens up on Antwerp-Porto transfer saga made him dress in rivals kit

By Angu Lesley

Foot Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon

Cameroon international Didier Lamkel Zé has revealed the story behind one of the most controversial moments of his career, when he wore an Anderlecht shirt while still contracted to Antwerp in an attempt to force through a move to FC Porto.

Lamkel Zé says he was at the peak of his career during his second season at Antwerp when Porto showed serious interest in signing him. According to the forward, Antwerp’s sporting director had brought Porto’s coach to watch him and the Portuguese club subsequently expressed their desire to sign him in January.

“Everything was okay. Antwerp had bought me for €1 million, and FC Porto put an offer of €10 million on the table.”

The Cameroon international was determined to make the move, believing Porto represented the next level in his career. However, Antwerp’s president refused to sanction the transfer and instead tried to convince Lamkel Zé to remain in Belgium with the promise of an improved salary.

Lamkel Zé says he rejected the proposal, leading to a serious confrontation with the club hierarchy. He claims the president warned him that refusing to stay could result in him spending the remainder of the season with the reserve team.

“That’s when the war was declared,” Lamkel Zé recalled.

The forward then admits that he deliberately began creating controversy around the club in an effort to make his position clear. When those actions failed to produce the desired transfer, he took things a step further.

“I decided to wear the Anderlecht shirt to shock,” he said.

The move generated considerable attention but ultimately failed to secure his departure from Antwerp. Instead of joining Porto, Lamkel Zé remained with the Belgian club after they increased his salary.

The Cameroon forward’s revelation provides fresh context to one of the most memorable episodes of his Antwerp spell, illustrating just how determined he was to force a move to Porto — and how far he was prepared to go to make his frustration known.

Despite the dramatic standoff, the €10 million Porto move never materialised, and Lamkel Zé continued his career elsewhere after his time at Antwerp.