Al Nasr’s cornering of the Emirati market has continued with the homecoming of midfielder Habib Fardan.
Fardan, 27, excelled at Al Maktoum Stadium from July 2009-August 2014 and was highly coveted when – the now defunct – Al Ahli won the chase for his signature. But he failed to live up to his promise in new surroundings, meaning his four-year deal signed upon arrival was not extended this summer.
“Al Nasr formally contracts with Habib Fardan for three seasons and the player will wear the No10 shirt,” the Blue Wave tweeted. “Welcome to the cradle of UAE football.”
The returning star will likely line-up alongside celebrated ex-France international Yohan Cabaye, recruited earlier this summer from Crystal Palace. They will be tasked with supplying Brazilian attackers Samuel Rosa and Iury de Castilho, recruited from relegated Hatta and Ukraine’s Zorya Luhansk.
A space remains open in their four-player foreign quota after Lebanon centre-back Joan Oumari last week moved to J1 League’s Sagan Tosu – the home of former Spain, Atletico Madrid and Liverpool centre forward Fernando Torres.
Last term’s fourth-placed finishers in the Arabian Gulf League have also made significant domestic moves.
Fardan’s Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club were raided earlier this summer for imposing UAE centre-back Mohammed Marzooq. Their defence was then further strengthened by the acquisition of Mohammed Ali Ayed from Al Jazira.
Promising Al Wahda forward Mohamed Al Akbari has moved to Dubai, in part-exchange for reserve left-back Hussain Abbas.
In midfield, former loanee Al Hussain Saleh joined from Emirates Club on a permanent basis.
Great expectations will surround the ability of Fardan to reignite his career among his fellow arrivals.
قادك الشوقُ لترتدي الرقم عَشرة .. عُدت لبيتٍ أزرقٍ وذكرى جميلة وعِشْرة .. هنا النصر ، هنا الأمل ، وهنا المجدُ ، وهنا البُشرى 💙 #حبيب_الفردان أهلا بك 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LSiJoZtoWl
— AL NASR FC (@ALNasrSC) August 7, 2018
UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni has dropped him from his plans and only four goals were scored in 94 AGL matches for Ahli/Shabab Al Ahli.
Fardan had proved an astute pick-up by Nasr from Al Wasl as a teenager in the previous decade, going on to score 27 times in 72 top-flight appearances.
He also played a key role when a 25-year trophy drought was ended with victory in 2014’s GCC Champions League final against Oman’s Al Nahda.
