“I wish UAE players would go to Europe” – Al Jazira’s Abdulla Mousa

Matt Jones - Editor 16:49 22/02/2015
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  • New deal: Omar Abdulrahman.

    UAE and Al Ain fans alike may well rejoice in Omar Abdulrahman’s contract extension with the Boss, but Whites international Abdulla Mousa believes the talented playmaker should be pushing to test himself among Europe’s elite.

    – READ: Sport360's World Cup 2015 magazine

    Abdulrahman, 23, took to Twitter on Friday to reveal he had agreed to stay with the Boss for an unspecified amount of years. 

    This announcement came despite speculation about the diminutive midfielder’s future growing after he was one of the UAE’s stars at January’s Asian Cup, where the Whites finished third.

    Al Jazira defender Mousa, 27, believes Abdulrahman and clubmate Ali Mabkhout testing themselves in the biggest footballing environments in the world would benefit UAE football as a whole.

    Mousa disagreed that one of the country’s brightest stars committing his future to Al Ain was all good news.

    “Actually, I wish our players would go to Europe, because it’s good for the national team,” he said. 

    “It would be good for the UAE. And good for him (Abdulrahman) also. To be a more experienced player.”

    Mousa added: “For sure the fans will be happy, but for the good of him and the country, I’d like him to go and test himself. 

    “I’ve played with Omar in the national team and he’s a fantastic player, and I could see him playing in one of the top leagues in Europe.”

    A press conference has been called at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium today at 18:00, where confirmation and details of Abdulrahman’s new deal are expected to be announced.

    Unlike Mabkhout, who has verbally agitated for a move abroad, Abdulrahman appears content in his adopted home country.

    Mousa also hopes Jazira team-mate Mabkhout, 24, will make the move west.

    “I wish also for Ali to have his chance in Europe. I’m sure he could play there.

    "I see him every day in training and he’s growing up a lot this season.

    "He was the best scorer in the Asian Cup and Gulf Cup in the same season too. That was a great moment for him.”

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