Al Nasr’s attempts to rid themselves of Ibrahima Toure are in limbo as the AWOL striker remains unreachable amid strong interest from a pair of Qatar Stars League (QSL) outfits.
Toure, 29, is unwanted by the Blue Wave despite his undoubted goal-scoring prowess after he failed to show up for pre-season training. This is the second-consecutive summer in which the Senegal international’s return has been delayed, the club replacing him with Brazil front man Nilmar in their four-player foreign quota earlier this month once their patience had snapped.
The situation has piqued the interest of two unnamed QSL sides, who are willing to take a risk on an errant player who has scored 34 goals in 43 Arabian Gulf League games since his August 2013 arrival from Monaco. Nasr are willing sellers with one-year remaining on Toure’s contract and no interest thus far forthcoming from the UAE, yet their efforts have been foiled as overtures to the centre forward, his agent Guy-Michel Boli and lawyer have gone unanswered.
“It is clear Toure does not have a future at the club,” a senior Nasr source said.
“What more can I say about him? He still hasn’t turned up for preseason training despite it starting on July 11 and repeated attempts to speak to him or his representatives have failed. Two clubs from Qatar are very interested in him, we would like to sell with Nilmar settling in so well.
“But you cannot do a deal without getting the permission of the player or people close to him. This has proved impossible – until we do, we cannot move him on.”
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Toure has courted controversy throughout his stay at the Al Maktoum Stadium, a violent assault on Bani Yas defender Mohamed Jaber in the opening round of the 2014/15 top-flight campaign last September earning him a four-match ban. Yet this suspension did not unduly affect his output, finishing second behind runaway top scorer Mirko Vucinic of Al Jazira with 18 goals.
Reports in the Arabic media this week stated Emirates Club were looking to take advantage of thesituation with a one-season loan offer. But this is wide of the mark, knowledge of the player’s indiscretions scaring away local sides at the current time.
“We all know what Toure can do on the pitch, but similarly the Arabian Gulf League clubs know what his behaviour can be like,” the Blue Wave source continued. “None of them have contacted Nasr to say they want Toure this summer, which isn’t too suprising.”
Toure will be absent on Saturday when replacement Nilmar leads the line for a new-look Nasr team in the Arabian Gulf Super Cup against Al Ain. Winger Jonathan Pitroipa has been recruited from Al Jazira and playmaker Luis Jimenez snapped up once his Al Ahli contract expired.
