EXCLUSIVE: Al Nasr star Brett Holman believes teammate Habib Fardan has the ability to play in Europe as the UAE international nears a move to an Arabian Gulf League rival.
Sport360° understands that Fardan is nearing a move away from the Maktoum Stadium, with Al Jazira and Al Ain both vying for the midfielder’s signature.
Al Jazira seem to be in pole position to sign the 23-year-old and have tabled an offer of Dh40m for his services and are willing to give the player a contract worth in the region of Dhs10m a year.
While a blow to Al Nasr’s hopes for the upcoming season, Fardan – a regular in the UAE national team – would boost the title ambitions of whichever club he decides to join.
Fardan’s ability has not gone unnoticed by Nasr colleague Holman (below), who having spent a year playing alongside the Emirati, is convinced he would make the grade in European football.
“If you watch him up close and see his technical skills; the way he controls the ball and sees the game, he could definitely go to a good team in Holland,” said Holman, who spent a decade in the Netherlands at Feyenoord, N.E.C and AZ Alkmaar.
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“He would be a great fit in Dutch football.
“When you learn the game in Holland, it’s very much about the ball and technique, and when you see Habib in training, he’s fantastic with the ball at his feet,” the former Aston Villa midfielder added.
“He’s proved he can add goals to his game and he’s playing brilliantly for the national team.
“Whether he has ambitions to go to Europe, I’m not sure, but he’s a very good player.”
Holman can look back on a productive debut season in the UAE, helping Nasr to the GCC Club Cup and fifth in the Arabian Gulf League, just two points behind third-placed Al Jazira.
However, Holman, who was capped 63 times by Australia before announcing his international retirement prior to the 2014 World Cup, believes Nasr can push onwards and upwards this season.
“I’ve got big ambitions to win the league,” he stated. “To say we can win the title this season, it might be too early to say, but we have a good group of players, and a real positive atmosphere in the dressing room.
“We have a chance to shake the league up a bit.”
