Al Nasr are set to secure their third Brazilian signing of the summer after they reportedly agreed a season’s loan for Corinthians attacking midfielder Marquinhos Gabriel.
The Blue Wave have been busy in recent months modelling a foreign quartet to gain Arabian Gulf League glory. In addition to the eye-catching capture of France and Crystal Palace midfielder Yohan Cabaye, they’ve also procured forward Samuel Rosa from relegated Hatta and striker Iury from Ukraine’s Zorya Luhansk.
ESPN Brasil have reported that 28-year-old Gabriel will soon be added to this list. A temporary switch, with a $4 million permanent option, has been agreed and the attacker has been granted permission to travel to Dubai for a medical.
This will be his second experience in the Middle East after a mixed spell at Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr from 2014-16. In 2018, Gabriel has scored once in 21 matches for his current employers.
Last term’s fourth-placed finishers in the UAE have also made significant domestic moves.
UAE internationals Habib Fardan – who represented the Blue Wave with distinction from 2008-14 – and Mohammed Marzooq have arrived from Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club.
Further deals have been agreed for Al Jazira centre-back Mohammed Ali Ayed, Emirates Club midfielder Al Hussain Saleh and promising Al Wahda forward Mohamed Al Akbari.
Meanwhile, promoted Ittihad Kalba have gambled on the fitness of Nigeria’s box-to-box midfielder Raheem Lawal to complete their non-Emirati contingent.
Lawal, 28, suffered regular fitness problems when Osmanlispor were relegated from Turkey’s Super Lig in 2017/18.
Rijeka midfielder Florentin Matei, Tigres UANL anchorman Alan Santos and Puskas Academia striker Antonio Perosevic have all been previously drafted in by the yo-yo outfit.
