Al Ain’s desire to boost a threadbare squad has seen them instigate tricky negotiations with Al Shabab for full-back Manei Mohamed.
Mohamed, 27, has emerged as a leading target for the Boss since UAE right-back Mohamed Ahmed underwent extensive knee surgery which will see him sidelined for six months. This blow has added haste to a recruitment drive designed to bolster a roster they believe is ill-equipped to juggle domestic commitments in the Arabian Gulf League and Arabian Gulf Cup, plus push for success against Qatar’s El Jaish in the 2016 AFC Champions League semi-finals.
The Boss are scouring the local market and want to add players in several positions, after previously only buying Whites centre midfielder Amer Abdulrahman and exciting Brazilian winger Caio. It is not currently envisaged that changes to their four-person foreign quota will be made ahead of the summer transfer window closing on October 20, although this stance could change depending on results.
Speaking in the aftermath of Sunday’s unconvincing 1-0 triumph against Bani Yas as their top-flight responsibilities began, coach Zlatko Dalic elucidated the urgent need to add numbers without naming any specific targets.
He said: “Al Ain is the only team who play all competitions: AFC Champions League, President’s Cup, Arabian Gulf Cup, our league and national team games. It’s very, very difficult for me and my team because we won’t have enough players for all competitions.
“We must do something. We must bring two or three new players who will benefit my team, because we cannot be competitive in all competitions like this.
“But of course we’ll fight, we’ll do the best on our side. But I’m afraid.
“We stayed without Mohamed Ahmed with the national team, now (goalkeeper) Khalid Essa was also with the national team and is now injured. I’m afraid that if someone else gets injured, who will play?
“We don’t have 20 players, we have 13 or 14 – it’s not enough for all competitions.”
Any players brought in will not be eligible to compete in the continent’s elite club tournament, with the deadline closing prior to their successful quarter-final skirmishes against Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv Tashkent.
The sparsity of options available to Dalic marks a significant disparity to champion Al Ahli, for whom they were runners-up to last term. Coach Cosmin Olaroiu has extensive local and foreign options in every position, with this situation best exemplified by the fact UAE starters Ismail Al Hammadi and 2015 AFC Asian Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil both scored off the substitute’s bench during Saturday’s 4-0 dismantling of Emirates Club.
Thanks god on scoring a goal and victory #goalain #blessed 💜 https://t.co/LSjyRg7OO5
— Caio Lucas (@7CaioLucas) September 18, 2016
Mohamed is being pursued because of his versatility. The recent Whites debutant – who endured mixed performances when winning his first caps during June’s King’s Cup in Thailand – is comfortable on both flanks, regularly flitting between them.
This ability is desirable to the Boss, for whom the inexperienced and inconsistent Saeed Mosabah is back-up to Mohammed Fayez on the left. On the right, Fawzi Fayez is the only option in Ahmed’s continued absence after Mohammed Fawzi was sold to Al Jazira.
The pursuit of Mohamed will not be easy, with the Hawks determinedly batting away overtures from Al Wasl and Ahli last summer. Al Nasr’s desire last summer to bring in highly-rated defensive midfielder Hassan Ibrahim also went unrequited.
This is in contrast to a spell between 2012-13 when Ahmed was sold to the Boss and Walid Abbas and Ciel were purchased by Ahli for significant sums. A seachange in ambition is further exemplified by the hiring of ex-PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord boss Fred Rutten this summer.
Another position in which Al Ain have a pressing need to add numbers is at centre-back. UAE starters Ismail Ahmed and Mohanad Salem are currently backed up by 22-year-old Rashed Muhayer, who made four appearances on loan at Al Wasl during 2015/16.
Goalkeeper Essa required lengthy treatment at the death against Bani Yas and was seen grimacing with pain as he hobbled through the interview area post-match.
