Brazilian coach lined up for Al Shabab

Marcos Paqueta set to return to the Dubai club, while their Olympic defender will move to Al Ain for 'big money'.

Mohammed Ahmed will join Al Ain after the Olympics.

DUBAI // Marcos Paqueta is expected to arrive in Dubai on Thursday for a final round of negotiations with Al Shabab before he signs on as Paulo Bonamigo's replacement.

Bonamigo terminated his contract with Shabab on Thursday, just three days after signing a one-year extension, to take up the vacant post at Al Jazira. The Dubai club have since been negotiating with the Brazilian Paqueta, who coached Shabab in 1988/89.

"The negotiations are at an advanced stage and we have a preliminary approval," a Shabab spokesman said. "He is coming here to sort out the final details."

Besides working with Shabab, Paqueta, who is currently the Libya national team coach, also coached the Saudi Arabia team at the 2006 World Cup (he replaced the former Baniyas coach Gabriel Calderon after the team had qualified for the tournament).

Paqueta has worked with clubs such as Al Hilal, Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan in the Gulf region. He was also coach of the Brazilian Under 17 and Under 20 teams, who won the world titles in 2003.

Shabab, meanwhile, have also agreed to Al Ain's bid for their defender Mohammed Ahmed.

The Olympic team member has also attracted offers from Al Ahli and Jazira, and the final decision will be taken once the player returns home from his holiday.

Shabab, however, are more keen on Al Ain's offer as it involves "big money", according to sources, and the Pro League champions have also offered the goalkeeper Ismail Rabea in exchange.

Rabea spent the last season at Shabab on loan from Al Ain. Ahmed's contract with Shabab lasts until 2015, but the young defender expressed his desire to leave "for a new challenge".

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