AL AIN // Ryan Babel has vowed to prove he has made the right decision in joining Al Ain after he finally completed his transfer to the Arabian Gulf League champions.
The former Liverpool and Dutch international winger, 28, was introduced to the media at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Thursday night, having finalised his switch from Turkey’s Kasimpasa. He has signed a two-year contract.
“I understand that a lot people in Europe are sceptical about this move for me, but I’m a sensitive person. I choose based on my feeling and not what other people think,” Babel said. “My feeling about Al Ain was very positive, was very good, and if my feeling wasn’t like that I would never have come.
“I’m very pleased to be here, it’s an honour for me to join this team. In these past few weeks I did my research about the league and the team and I must say I was very, very impressed, especially with the images and the clips I saw from last season, in celebrating the championship, etc.
“Once again, I’m honoured to be here and hopefully I can also be part of the success with this team – and hopefully at the end of the season lift another trophy.”
The acquisition of Babel has been welcomed by a large portion of Al Ain’s supporters, who cite his CV as reason to believe he will prove a success in the UAE.
Having begun his senior career at Ajax in 2004, Babel then spent three-and-a-half years at Liverpool from 2007, although he never truly fulfilled his potential. In 146 appearances for the Premier League side — 81 were as a substitute – he scored 22 goals.
Babel moved to Germany’s Hoffenheim in January 2011 but returned 18 months later to Ajax, where he stayed a season before switching to Kasimpasa. In two seasons in Istanbul, Babel scored 14 goals in 58 Super Lig matches. He has also represented the Netherlands 46 times.
Given his experiences in several countries, Babel says he does not envisage he will encounter any problems adapting to his new surroundings.
“I must say it helped a lot that I had two seasons before in Turkey, which is also a very different league and culture to Europe, for example. When I first heard from Al Ain it was almost three weeks ago,” he said.
“Before I take an offer seriously, I do my own research. And with that I slowly got a sense everything was perfect. I got a good feeling and that’s why I chose to come here.”
Babel represents Al Ain’s first signing of the summer transfer window, joining Asamoah Gyan and Lee Myung-joo as part of the club’s foreign contingent for next season. He takes Miroslav Stoch’s place in the squad after the Slovak midfielder’s one-year loan spell from Fenerbahce was not made permanent.
Al Ain are willing to listen to offers for Jires Kembo Ekoko, the French striker, meaning they are searching for one other player to complete their expatriate quartet. Negotiations with Vasco da Gama’s Felipe Bastos are believed to be at an advanced stage.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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