Al Ain and UAE superstar Omar Abdulrahman attracts European interest as Al Hilal press

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  • Omar Abdulrahman was named man of the match against Oman.

    A series of European clubs have registered interest in the UAE’s superstar playmaker Omar Abdulrahman this summer, amid a serious and sustained approach from Saudi Arabia giants Al Hilal.

    The coveted 2016 AFC Player of the Year is currently available on a free transfer after his deal at Al Ain lapsed this summer. This situation has led to fevered speculation about him finally being prised away from Hazza bin Zayed Stadium after a celebrated decade in the first team that has included 62 goals and 114 assists in 229 appearances, plus 11 major honours.

    A return to boyhood club Hilal for the Riyadh-born, UAE international has been heavily touted since last January’s winter transfer window. Further rumours in the Saudi press have declared that a contract renewal with Al Ain will be inked, prior to a lucrative one-season loan to the reigning Saudi Professional League champions for 2018/19.

    Sources close to the 26-year-old have labelled Hilal as “an option” and “the only Middle East club” he will go to. This follows rumours that Al Nassr have offered Dh3 million more in wages, bringing the total operation to Dh24m.

    A number of teams from Spain, France and the Netherlands have also been contacted by advisers. Several have reacted with intrigue about the prospect of recruiting arguably the finest domestic footballer currently based in Asia.

    If Abdulrahman does depart in the coming days, it will represent an end to years of speculation.

    He first experienced a successful trial at Manchester City after the London 2012 Olympics, only for work-permit issues to scupper a historic first permanent move for an Emirati to the old continent.

    Valencia, Hamburg, Arsenal, Benfica and Fenerbahce are among the outfits to further be attached to his name. Al Ain rejected a loan offer from Nice in July 2017.

    Links to the country of his birth, however, have always been strong.

    Central to this stance has been Hilal.

    Amoory successfully underwent a trial there before his teenage years. But as his family was part of the Yemeni diaspora, a lack of Saudi citizenship presented an opportunity to join Al Ain’s productive academy across the border in 2007.

    A heavy pre-season recruitment drive by Hilal could force a reunion.

    They have already brought in celebrated former Benfica and Sporting Lisbon head coach, Jorge Jesus.

    On the playing staff, ex-Spain Under-23 defender Alberto Botia has been picked up from Olympiacos and Peru forward Andre Carrillo has been reunited with Jesus thanks to another loan away from Benfica – the 27-year-old scored twice in 27 matches at Watford last term.

    If Amoory does head to Hilal on a temporary basis, it will bear echoes of predecessor Ismail Matar’s career path.

    The 2003 FIFA U-20 World Cup Player of the Year had a brief spell at Qatar’s Al Sadd in 2009 from Al Wahda, despite previously attracting offers from Europe.

    Amoory experienced a mixed 2017/18, even though his employers won a first Arabian Gulf League and President’s Cup double.

    He began the campaign injured and was handed a controversial domestic ban for breaking curfew the night before January 5’s Gulf Cup final defeat to Oman.

    In that harrowing showpiece, Amoory missed decisive penalties in normal time and the shootout.

    But he finished the campaign on 13 assists and seven goals in 25 club run-outs.

    An inability to agree a contract extension with the Boss saw him become a free agent in July.

    This meant he was not present during pre-season training, although he was selected for the UAE camp in Salzburg, Austria from August 1-18.

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