Mariano Donda revealed new coach Diego Maradona was an “important” factor in his decision to join Al Wasl, as he was officially unveiled alongside fellow South Americans Edson Puch and Juan Manuel Olivera on Saturday.
The Argentine midfielder was the club’s final foreign acquisition when he joined earlier this month, signing a one-year deal in Dubai following an impressive season for Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba in his homeland.
The 29-year-old scored six goals in 18 games during the Premera Division’s Torneo Clausura as his former club finished third just four points behind champions Velez Sarsfield. However, despite earning rave reviews for his performances in Argentina, Donda said it was impossible to down Maradona once his idol came calling.
“I knew that Maradona was coming here, for me that made it important for me to come here, and now I need to adapt as quickly as possible to my team-mates and the city and then I hope to train hard, and then to play well,” Donda said.
“It was important because Maradona called me, because Maradona wanted me. For me that was a good thing, and it is a good pressure. I hope to play well, to go far and to do what I know.”
Asked what made playing for Maradona so special, Donda added: “Maradona is the best, he was the best player and now (as a coach) he stays close to the players and he talks a lot. He tries to give us our thinking, to let us make the most of what we can do on the field.”
Donda, who admits he was “a bit young” when he made a slightly underwhelming move to Italian side Bari four years ago is keen to show the Al Wasl faithful what he can do on the pitch.
“I know we have a life in our career and I know that this opportunity is important for me,” he said. “In Bari I was a bit young, and now I feel good and I have arrived at a good time and I hope to demonstrate on the field what I can do.”
The Argentine midfielder arrived at the Zabeel Stadium during Ramadan and although there were language and cultural barriers to overcome he said he had been welcomed warmly by the club’s local players as he settles into his new life in Dubai.
Donda said: “They have received me very well. Perhaps we don’t talk a lot because they have a different culture, but the culture is also on the field and we have to demonstrate that we are friends, we are brothers. Let the ball talk on the field.”
Meanwhile, Donda’s new team-mate Puch believes that he can press his claims for a return to the Chile squad while playing for Wasl. The attacking midfielder has five caps for his country, with his last call-up coming against the USA back in January.
The 25-year-old missed out on the squad for the Copa America last month but remains optimistic he can force his way back into the reckoning. “Of course I am very proud to represent my national team, anyone would be. I am going to give my all to continue playing for Chile,” Puch said.
