Al Ahli could face a stiff challenge from Abu Dhabi rivals Al Jazira in their bid to bring Brazilian superstar Robinho to the Arabian Gulf League.
The Dubai club are reportedly willing to pay €4.5 million (Dh22.1m) a year to bring Robinho to Dubai from Milan and the AGL champions seem to be in pole position with their bid, as rivals such as Turkey’s Fenerbahce, Olympiacos of Greece and several Brazilian clubs are unwilling to meet the 30-year-old Robinho’s wage demands.
Ahli could, though, find themselves in a bidding war with Jazira, who have received offers for their Moroccan midfielder Abdulaziz Barrada and have identified Robinho as a possible replacement.
According to sources connected with the Abu Dhabi club, Jazira have received offers from Portuguese club Porto and Marseille of France for Barrada.
The club management are discussing the proposals and, should they accept it, Robinho is one of the four alternatives they have identified.
The Brazilian is not their first option. That, according to sources, is Napoli’s Macedonian striker Goran Pandev.
With Milan and Fiorentina also interested in his services, along with a few Spanish and English clubs, Pandev is not keen on leaving Europe and, according to Skysports Italy, has already turned down Jazira’s offer.
According to reports in Italy, Jazira have offered €6m to Milan for Robinho and a salary of €3.5m to the player, but with Ahli offering more, the Abu Dhabi club could come back with an improved proposal.
Jazira’s other options are Marseille’s Ghanaian midfielder Andre Ayew and 21-year-old Haitian international Jeff Louis, who is playing for French Ligue 2 club Nancy.
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