Stalemate over fee holds up Marcus Berg’s move to Al Ain from Panathinaikos

Panathinaikos' Marcus Berg. AFP

John McAuley

Marcus Berg’s transfer to Al Ain will go through only if Panathinaikos’ “perfectly reasonable demands” are met, the Greek club have confirmed.

The Swedish striker, 30, arrived in Al Ain this week and was expected to sign for the Garden City side on Tuesday, but a disagreement regarding the fee has delayed the deal.

Panathinaikos are thought to want at least €5 million (Dh20.5m) for Berg, who has scored 73 goals in 116 league matches since joining from Germany’s Hamburg in 2013. His current contract runs until 2019.

In a statement released on their website, Panathinaikos said they wanted the prolific frontman to remain at the club, but added that they would not block any potential move should they be appropriately compensated.

“Panathinaikos did not do anything to sell Marcus Berg, nor was the club aware of the player’s contacts with interested teams,” read the statement. “As far as Marcus is concerned, there is a contract with Panathinaikos until June 2019.

“We understand the possible desire of the player to gain at this stage of his career a transfer with significant economic benefit. Panathinaikos does not intend to stand in the way of Marcus’ efforts, with the necessary condition that the club’s perfectly reasonable demands will be met.

“Although obvious, we would like to point out that Panathinaikos want to continue with Marcus. But if economic, family and other reasons push him to another choice for his career, we will respect him.”

In obvious need of a striker, Al Ain have a long-standing interest in Berg, who has excelled in the Greek top flight since his switch to Panathinaikos four years ago. He top-scored in the 2016/17 Greek Super League’s regular season, finding the net 22 times in 28 games.

Berg, who began his professional career with IFK Gothenburg, is a regular for the Sweden national team, and was part of the side that defeated France in their World Cup qualifier on June 9. In all, he has featured 47 times for his country, scoring 12 goals.

Al Ain, Asian Champions League runners-up last year, have already been busy in the transfer market this summer having last week recruited Japanese midfielder Tsukasa Shiotani. With the 2017 Champions League quarter-final first leg against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal to come on August 21, the club are looking to conclude their business early.

Of their four expatriates, Al Ain have retained only Brazilian winger Caio, with Saudi Arabian striker Nasser Al Shamrani returning to parent club Hilal after a six-month loan and midfielder Lee Myung-joo going back to South Korea in preparation for military service. Meanwhile, the club have offers for Colombian winger Danilo Asprilla – believed to be on his way to Turkey’s Bursaspor - and Douglas, the much-maligned Brazilian forward.

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