Senegal international Makhete Diop has admitted his future at Al Dhafra beyond this season remains unclear, despite agreeing a contract extension earlier this summer.
The tall, powerful striker has been nothing short of a sensation in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region since signing for the Western Knights three seasons ago.
The 27-year-old has bagged an incredible 52 goals in 72 games for Dhafra and head coach Laurent Banide held onto his main man this summer despite interest from around the Gulf.
“I don’t know what will happen at the end of the season,” Diop said following Dhafra’s 3-1 defeat at champions Al Ain on the opening day of the Arabian Gulf League season.
“I had offers in the summer. I had Al Nasr, Dubai, Al Nassr, Saudi, Al Saad in Qatar and Bani Yas, but Dhafra don’t want to sell me so I stay with them. I have a contract with them so I have to stay.”
Diop’s goals propelled Dhafra to successive eighth-place finishes in his first two seasons in the UAE, the two-times capped Senegal international’s 22 strikes in 2013-14 seeing him finish third in the AGL scoring stakes.
Just 12 goals last season contributed to them finishing a lowly 11th but Diop is focused on his fourth campaign with the Western Knights.
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“Now we are starting the season so we see what happens. I am with Dhafra and I try to give all my best to Dhafra,” he said.
“I have to play good with my team and see what happens in the future.
“My contract is changing and there are still two years to go. I am in Dhafra and I stay with Dhafra. I shall play with Dhafra this year so I play and we see what happens next year.”
Diop was a thorn in the side of the Boss at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Friday, missing an open goal after half-time that would have got the visitors back in the game at 2-1.
“I think if I’d scored we would have had a chance to come back, so we didn’t have the luck,” said Diop.
“We have to go back to training and prepare as normal.”
