Caio Canedo returns to Al Wasl to sign permanent deal

Matt Jones - Editor 11:20 18/07/2015
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  • Second stint awaits: Caio Canedo (l) scored 19 times during his loan at Al Wasl last season.

    Al Wasl’s chances of success next season have been bolstered by the fact that Brazilian goal-scoring sensation Caio Canedo has returned to the club after signing a permanent deal.

    The 24-year-old was lethal last term, netting 16 goals in 22 Arabian Gulf League appearances.

    Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon spoke earlier this week of his hopes that Caio would return to 
    Zabeel Stadium.

    In a real coup for the Cheetahs, not only have they retained the services of their prolific striker, but he is believed to have signed a permanent, five-year deal, as opposed to another year-long loan, which had been mooted.

    Following a holiday, Caio arrived back in the UAE on Thursday, signing for an undisclosed fee from three-time Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A winners Internacional.

    The former Botafogo frontman announced via his Instagram account: “I am ready for 2015! Thank you for all the messages, love, and support that I received. Can’t wait to see my #AlWasl family again.”

    Team manager Majed Obaidallah said it was imperative Wasl kept hold of a player who netted a total of 19 times in 28 games during his debut campaign in the UAE top-flight.

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    “It is a very good deal and we are very happy with Caio,” Obaidallah told Sport360°.

    “Everyone knows that he did a good job last year and it was very important that we kept hold of someone who scored so many goals for us last season.

    “No doubt he will be the same this season as we search for trophies.”

    Caio was part of a three-pronged Brazilian attack that saw Wasl light up the AGL last season, the Cheetahs sprinting up the table following the arrival of Calderon, the former Paris Saint-Germain player and Argentine international, in October.

    As well as Caio’s 19 goals, compatriots Ederson Alves and Fabio Lima were also crucial to Wasl’s revival, scoring 15 goals in 32 games and 17 in 30 respectively.

    An atrocious start left them languishing second-bottom of the AGL table when Calderon arrived following Jorginho’s dismissal after a 3-0 League Cup defeat by Al Shabab.

    However, having lost three of their first six games of the season prior to Calderon’s arrival, Wasl lost just six of the next 27 under the 55-year-old former Bani Yas coach.

    Calderon had spoken earlier this week of the importance of keeping Caio, especially after Alves was sold by parent club Atletico Paranaense to J League Division 1 side Kashiwa Reysol.

    Wasl still have one slot to fill in their four-man foreign quota and, according to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, are looking at Celta Vigo forward Joaquin Larrivey to 
    replace Alves.

    The Argentine scored 12 goals in 36 games for a team that finished eighth in La Liga last term.

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