Al Jazira appear to have pulled off a major transfer coup after former Al Ain talisman Omar Abdulrahman was in pictured in their 2019/20 home jersey.
‘Amoory’ – without a club after leaving Saudi Arabia powerhouses Al Hilal last month – was pictured in the new Jazira shirt on Twitter late on Wednesday night, along with namesake Amer Abdulrahman.
If true, the Pride of Abu Dhabi will have significantly bolstered their forward options for the new season under new coach Jurgen Streppel with the acquisition of two renowned UAE internationals.
It would also pair the two most recognised and talented stars of UAE football together – with Abdulrahman joining feared striker Ali Mabkhout at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
Abdulrahman, 27, established himself as the poster boy of UAE football during a decade playing for Al Ain’s first team. He also appeared on the radar globally after shining for the UAE at the 2012 Olympic Games in the UK, after which he impressed during a trial at Manchester City – only for a move to break down because of work-permit issues.
Ligue 1’s Nice became the latest in a long line of sides to fail to make him the first Emirati to permanently join one of the west’s major competitions in the summer of 2017. La Liga’s Leganes and Ligue 1’s Lyon were linked 12 months ago.
He was named Asian Footballer of the Year in 2016 although his time with the Boss soured towards the end and he shockingly defected last summer, returning to boyhood club Hilal – he was born in Riyadh to Yemeni parents.
من الوناسة قدموهم في الريسبشن 😭 pic.twitter.com/YU1TqzbelS
— ﮼العازي (@el3azy22) August 7, 2019
But a serious knee injury suffered last October curtailed the cultured playmaker’s debut campaign at the Crescent and ruined his chances of playing for the UAE at the 2019 Asian Cup on home soil.
Rumours of a departure from Hilal were rife this summer with talk he would return to the AGL with the Garden City side, or even Al Nasr.
But Al Ain manager Ivan Leko labelled rumours that he advised the club against re-signing their former star as “fake news” last week.
The Blue Wave, meanwhile, had distanced themselves from reports.
Amoory’s stock as a footballer is low, but his reputation remains high. And if his signing is to be confirmed by Jazira, it will send shockwaves throughout the AGL and add excitement to 2019/20’s title race. Reigning champions Sharjah were deserving winners but runners-up Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and third, fourth and fifth-placed Al Ain and Jazira were separated by just eight points.
The two Abdulrahmans will join Morocco forward Mourad Batna and Sultan Al Ghaferi through the doors at the Abu Dhabi giants – both arriving from cross-city rivals Al Wahda, although the Clarets are disputing the legitimacy of the Batna transfer.
Brazilian attacker Keno has also arrived from Pyramids FC while compatriot Leonardo has joined Chinese Super League side Tianjin Tianhai.
