Al Wasl and Bani Yas boast new centre forwards after they both confirmed two-year deals for Edgar Bruno and Joaquin Larrivey yesterday.
Larrivey, 30, had been strongly linked with a move to a mystery Arabian Gulf League club since a transfer to Premier League new boys Norwich City from Celta Vigo fell through earlier this month.
#AGL | In a turn of events, Joaquin Larrivey snubs #AlWasl to join @BaniyasClub. #CeltaVigo pic.twitter.com/NU68TQMq5B
— Ahdaaf (@ahdaafme) July 22, 2015
The Sky Blues had been expected to land ADO Den Haag’s Michiel Kramer, the giant frontman even travelling to Abu Dhabi on July 6 to undergo medical tests. But the Dutch outfit announced late on Tuesday the deal had been scrapped, Bani Yas already putting in place a reported €2 million (Dh 8m) switch for Larrivey who scored 11 times in 35 La Liga appearances in 2014/15.
“Bani Yas welcomes Joaquin Larrivey,” they tweeted. “‘Larry’ and [already-signed] Australia midfielder Mark Milligan are powerful additions to the team.”
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There was similar news for the Cheetahs, Edgar being rescued from the wilderness at Al Shabab. The 28-year-old comes to Zabeel Stadium after registering a creditable 37 goals in 70 AGL appearances for the Hawks.
But a return of just eight last term saw him made surplus to requirements as Brazil striker Jo was brought in by the AFC Champions League preliminary qualifiers.
He is the only new face in Wasl’s four-player foreign quota from the side which finished sixth, centre midfielder Hugo Viana plus forwards Caio Canedo and Fabio De Lima all being retained.
