A short tweet last night announced a move which has huge ramifications for the Arabian Gulf League.
In less than 140 characters, a historic transfer redefined the norms which seemed to previously dictate the division. Contained in it was news UAE defensive midfield star Khamis Esmail had walked a path rarely trodden, as he joined Al Ahli from Al Jazira.
The question now is who has got the better end of a landmark deal? For all the tall 26-year-old’s undoubted ability, there are warning signs. But in the fullness of time, expect the buyer’s ambition to gain greater reward than the Pride of Abu Dhabi’s pragmatism.
The understood Dh60 million fee on a three-and-a-half-year contract is huge and, if confirmed, potentially record breaking.
Bear hug from new boss Olaroiu the undoubted highlight for Esmail, who will be unveiled at 12:00 tomorrow @Sport360 https://t.co/bsOa3XJHBI
— Matt Monaghan (@mattmonaghan360) January 18, 2016No other member of the current Whites squad has completed a comparable transfer between the afforementioned duo or Al Ain. Coach Mahdi Ali’s No1 Khalid Essa joined the Boss from Jazira in July 2013, yet he was then a talented prospect tired of playing second fiddle to Ali Khaseif. Centre-back Fares Juma made the move in the opposite direction this summer after growing tired of the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium’s bench.
Transfers such as Esmail’s are simply not supposed to happen in a top flight where premier domestic talent is guarded like Fort Knox. It has required bravery from all parties to be completed.
Is the selling club set to come out on top after they gained significant profit on a youngster purchased from Emirates Club in January 2011, who has recently fallen out with the club hierarchy and nursed a serious knee problem? Or will Ahli prevail after they bought the perfect foil for Majed Hassan to turn second place into first?
Esmail will provide crisp passing at short and long range, plus a neat football brain able to snuff out danger which was evidenced on a grand stage in last January’s quarter-final triumph in the Asian Cup against holders Japan.
Massive transfer for #uae football as @uaefa_ae star @khamis025 joins #alahliuae from @AlJazira_uae @Sport360 https://t.co/mkSQIounIJ
— Matt Monaghan (@mattmonaghan360) January 18, 2016Keeping him away from the treatment table will be the biggest challenge for his new employers. The ice pack on his problem right knee as he limped through the mixed zone after Saturday’s friendly victory for the UAE against Iceland exhibited it.
Esmail has made eight top-flight appearances in 2015-16, missing the other six through a combination of injury and a short suspension handed to him by the UAE Football Association because of a disagreement about payments to a previous agent. In his three previous seasons, he has featured in 18 games out of 26 in each.
His body will need to be appropriately managed for Jazira not to feel vindicated about the price paid. Ahli will rightly point to their strength in depth in the middle of the park as a counterpoint. UAE colleagues Habib Fardan and Hassan are already in situ, while utility man Kwon Kyung-won and Humaid Abbas allow rotation.
This ability to pick and choose Esmail’s games should send fear through the ranks of leaders Al Ain. The thought of the tireless Hassan winning balls for Esmail to ping to Ismail Al Hammadi, Everton Ribeiro, Ahmed Khalil, Moussa Sow and – when available – Lima is their nightmare.
Jazira can only watch this struggle for silverware in 10th. No matter the cash in the bank, the call to sell will see the distance between them and their fellow heavyweights widen.
