Nilmar and Jonathan Pitroipa will undergo medicals on Saturday as Al Nasr look set to complete the foreign quartet they believe will transform cup success into Arabian Gulf League-glory.
The Blue Wave announced two-year deals had been agreed for the pair on Thursday. They will now be examined in Munich, before joining up with their new team-mates at the pre-season camp in Germany if the tests are successful.
Internacional striker Nilmar, 31, will replace the AWOL Ibrahima Toure, while 29-year-old winger Pitroipa was unwanted by Al Jazira despite a debut campaign in which he registered the joint-highest number of assists with eight.
“Al Nasr declares they have reached an agreement with Al Jazira for Pitroipa to join for two seasons,” the President’s Cup and Arabian Gulf Cup holders stated on their Instagram account. “He will go to Munich to undergo final medical tests in two days (Saturday).
“Al Nasr has reached an agreement with Internacional to contract with the Brazilian Nilmar for two seasons. He will head to the city of Munich on Saturday for medical tests and complete the deal.”
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Nasr are convinced 23-time-capped Brazil international Nilmar has the class and temperament to fill the void left by Toure. The ex-Villarreal frontman has scored six league goals in 25 appearances since he rejoined his boyhood club for a third time last year. He has previous experience of Middle Eastern football, playing for Al Rayyan and El Jaish in Qatar from 2012-14.
Pitroipa has been cast aside by returning Pride of Abu Dhabi coach Abel Braga, his place being taken by Peru and Schalke 04 forward Jefferson Farfan. The Burkina Faso international scored nine times in 25 AGL games following a July 2014 transfer from France’s Rennes.
The pair join former Al Ahli playmaker and Palestinian passport holder Luis Jimenez at Al Maktoum Stadium, defensive midfielder Renan Garcia the only non-Emirati to be retained from last season.
Captain Brett Holman was allowed to depart for Emirates Club, while Ivan Jovanovic’s men declined to take up the option to make winger Pablo Hernandez’s loan switch from Qatar’s Al Arabi permanent. Former captain Leo Lima and wide man Ivan Trickovski are with the team in Europe, but neither has a future with the club.
Nasr want to cut all ties with Toure, who for the second summer in a row has failed to report on time for preparatory training.
The Senegal ace has incensed officials by his unauthorised decision to head to Africa just before the squad came back together on July 11. His frequent posts on Instagram have also added to the upset during a time when attempts to contact the player and agent Guy-Michel Boli have been unsuccessful.
