Denilson’s days at Al Wahda are numbered, with the club confirming they expect to bring in a replacement for the Brazilian midfielder during the next few days.
The ex-Arsenal man, 28, arrived at the Clarets a year ago from Sao Paulo. The highlight of his campaign came with the solitary goal in April’s Arabian Gulf Cup final against Al Shabab, as the club lifted the trophy for the first time.
But Wahda’s first-team manager Abdulbaset Al Hammadi confirmed Saturday Denilson will be the only foreign player leaving Al Nahyan Stadium this summer.
“We are expecting the new player to sign in two or three days, then we will have a complete team,” said Al Hammadi. “He will be a replacement for Denilson.”
Denilson scored twice in 29 games for the Clarets.
However, speculation about his future began to circulate as the season drew to a close in May.
Argentine hotshot Sebastian Tagliabue, Chile playmaker Jorge Valdivia and South Korea defender Rim Chang-woo will all remain at the club, meaning one place in the four-player foreign quota remains.
Al Hammadi refused to reveal the identity of the fourth player, although one target could be Flamengo’s Everton Cardoso. The 27-year-old attacking midfielder has scored 17 goals in 94 games for the Rio de Janeiro giants.
“I cannot say who it is, the management has not decided, but we have two or three names, and within two days they will decide,” added Al Hammadi. “On Monday or Tuesday, it will be decided and then he will come to join the team.”
The new buy is not expected to be unveiled before the club departs for its pre-season tour to Spain tomorrow. Aside from the impending new arrival, Wahda have added local pair Tariq Ahmed and Nasser Abdulhadi to their ranks, who are both highly-rated midfielders from Dibba Al Fujairah.
