Al Ain have brotherly love for Diaky

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  • Back with a bang: Diaky (far right)

    Diaky 34, had spent the last fortnight training with former club Al Jazira as he closed on a return to Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

    But a change of heart from the Boss in light of their impending 2016 AFC Champions League quarter-final against Lokomotiv Tashkent saw an unexpected new contract agreed, meaning only UAE right-back Mohammed Fawzi, 26, will be leaving them this summer for the Pride of Abu Dhabi.

    “Diaky is a great player and holds high professional value when dealing with everyone,” said 28-year-old striker Douglas, who has scored an excellent 20 goals in 23 appearances since a January move from Japan’s Tokushima Vortis.

    “Everyone here loves him and considers him like an older brother. Personally, I took great pleasure in the news of his return to Al Ain.”

    The Boss are determined to improve on a 2015/16 which saw them lose their Arabian Gulf League crown to Al Ahli and suffer defeat to Jazira in the President’s Cup final. Colombian winger Danilo Asprilla, 27, insisted every member of the squad – including Diaky – would play a key role in achieving this aim.

    He said: “The team is in desperate need of each player to represent us in the next season, especially when it comes to the AFC Champions League competition.”

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