Big deals on D-day as Al Ahli bolster frontline by roping in Munoz

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  • Big signing: Al Ahli pulled out all the stops on transfer deadline night to secure Carlos Munoz (r) from Bani Yas. Up to the big day: Nearly 500 participants took to the track yesterday.

    Al Ahli boast a player who can “make the difference” up front after splashing the cash on trans­fer deadline day to land Bani Yas striker Carlos Munoz, according to coach Cosmin Olaroiu.

    The Arabian Gulf League cham­pions were the big spenders on Thursday night, reacting to the long-term injury to key forward Ciel by bringing in the Chile inter­national from Bani Yas for Dh40 million plus 2012 UAE Olympic squad member Saeed Suroor.

    The Red Knights freed up space in their four-player foreign quota by allowing Portugal midfielder Hugo Viana to join Al Wasl on a one-year permanent deal and send­ing Iraq prodigy Humam Tariq to Al Dhafra on a one-year loan.

    Ahli laboured to a goalless draw against Ajman on Monday. They now possess fearsome depth in attack, an attribute Olaroiu was pleased to utilise.

    The Romanian said: “Munoz joined with the squad today [Fri­day]. We tried to bring a player who can score goals and increase our power in attack.

    “He is the player I think can make the difference in front. Now, we have three players in Munoz, Grafite and Ahmed Khalil.

    “I suppose that will make us stronger.”

    Munoz was a rare bright spot as Bani Yas laboured to ninth place in his only full season at the club in 2013-14, scoring 14 AGL goals. He had not been anywhere as prolific during their opening four games this term, however, netting only a consolation in last Tuesday’s dis­piriting 3-2 defeat at Emirates Club.

    The former Colo-Colo star’s ex-employers were the busiest team on Thursday, also finally securing the tall striker demanded by under-pressure coach Luis Garcia in Al Wasl’s Mohammed Nasser.

    The 26-year-old scored seven goals in 17 top-flight appearances last term, but has yet to appear in 2014-15. Bani Yas failed to lure Ahmed Kahalil on a loan deal, the UAE striker’s opportunities for first-team starts limited further by Munoz’s arrival at the other end.

    Elsewhere, Wasl released Bra­zilian Neto Berola to free up room for Viana and agreed to buy the UAE’s Asian Games captain Saeed Al Kathiri as a permanent replace­ment for Naser. Viana had become marginalised with the Red Knights following the summer arrival of Olaroiu acolyte Mirel Radoi, while Wahda and Wasl had been in dis­pute since January about Al Kathiri.

    Elsewhere, Sharjah continued their Brazilian recruitment policy by agreeing a loan deal for Rodrigu­inho as replacement for the seri­ously injured Luan. The 26-year-old joins from Sao Paulo giants Corinthians, recently scoring twice in 11 league appearances while on another temporary deal at Grremio.

    Bottom-placed Ittihad Kalba looked to bolster their squad with the acquisitions of ex-Al Ain and Al Wasl goalkeeper Saif Al Badi and 23-year-old midfielder Hamad Al Marri, who was most recently with Al Dhafra. 

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