UAE superstar Omar Abdulrahman secures landmark loan switch to Al Hilal

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  • Months of speculation have come to an end after UAE superstar Omar Abdulrahman secured a momentous season-long loan to Saudi Arabia giants Al Hilal and simultaneously agreed a three-year contract extension at Al Ain, dashing hope of a historic European switch.

    Abdulrahman, 26, had attracted overtures from teams in France, Spain and the Netherlands as a free agent once his deal expired at the Boss in July. But the pull of the Saudi Professional League heavyweights, his childhood side in Riyadh as a member of the Yemeni diaspora, proved too alluring.

    Reports in the Kingdom have stated his name will feature in a parade of summer additions at King Saud University Stadium on Monday night. A Middle East-record €14 million (Dh59.5m) loan fee was required to complete the transaction for 2018/19, heading off an approach from capital rivals Al Nassr.

    Aspirations about a landmark permanent move to football’s traditional heartland, which began with 2012’s trial at Manchester City, have come to naught for the playmaker thanks to the weekend’s concurrence about fresh terms.

    Sources close to the 2016 AFC Player of the Year described Hilal as “the only Middle East club” he would go to. A temporary move back to the city of his birth denies Amoory the possibility of playing in December’s Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

    It also bears similarities to the career trajectory of predecessor Ismail Matar. The 2003 FIFA U-20 World Cup Player of the Tournament never transferred to Europe, instead joining Qatar’s Al Sadd on loan in 2009 from Al Wahda.

    In April, Boss chairman Ghanim Al Hajeri authoritatively stated his prized asset, Amoory, would be “staying with the club for next season, where we are faced with the most important of challenges.”

    Abdulrahman has grown into a legend with the Arabian Gulf League and President’s Cup holders since he joined their fabled academy in 2007.

    In a decade with the first team, he’s scored 62 times and crafted 114 assists during 229 appearances. A total of 11 major honours have been won in this period.

    A star role with the UAE at the London 2012 Olympics led to a successful trial at City. Work-permit issues then scuppered a first permanent move for an Emirati to Europe.

    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.

    Those contacted this summer were prepared to produce offers, on the proviso Amoory remained a free agent. Annual wages on the deal signed in February 2015 are estimated at Dh20m.

    Al Ain would now be in position to demand a substantial transfer fee, despite last term’s domestic and international travails.

    This included being ostracised and banned for breaking curfew the night before January 5’s Gulf Cup-final loss to Oman, a match in which he missed decisive penalties at the end of normal time plus the shootout.

    But throughout his spell in the Garden City, talk of an eventual return to Hilal never dissipated.

    The ascension of Turki Al Sheikh to the General Sports Authority’s chairmanship has led to an enormous injection of state cash into the national sport.

    Hilal have used this largesse since the end of 2017/18 to attract esteemed ex-Sporting Lisbon coach Jorge Jesus, former Spain Under-21 defender Alberto Botia from Olympiacos and tie up a loan switch for Peru’s Benfica-owned forward Andre Carrillo.

    Amoory had been missing throughout pre-season for the Boss, including the recent first-round elimination to Algeria’s ES Setif in the Arab Club Champions Cup.

    A likely debut for Hilal will come in August 18’s Saudi Super Cup at London’s Loftus Road, against Al Ittihad.

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