The Spanish influence has increased at Bani Yas after the club announced the arrival of Jesus Garcia Pitarch as their new sports director on a two-year contract.

Garcia Pitarch, 50, has gained great experience in his homeland as both a player and member of technical staff. He will now play a key role supporting countryman Luis Garcia, who inked a deal to become coach for the same period of time a fortnight ago.

Those Iberian links have been utilised by the Sky Blues immediately, with Portugal international Ricardo Costa receiving an offer to join them following the termination of his deal with La Liga side Valencia.

Speaking of his release from the club he skippered during a wretched spell last season, the 33-year-old said on Tuesday: “These have been years of great happiness where I felt the support of the fans through the good and bad times.”

The 21-times capped Seleccao defender was believed to have been the highest paid player at Los Che.

Bani Yas are currently trying to recruit three foreign players to fill their Arabian Gulf League quota.

They also made a written bid for Al Wahda’s UAE international defender Hamdan Al Kamali on Sunday, which was met by stern resistance from their Abu Dhabi rivals.

Costa has featured for Wolfsburg, Lille and Porto previously, and is comfortable playing across the back line. His signing, if forced through, would mark an impressive start for Garcia Pitarch’s tenure at Bani Yas Stadium.

The Spaniard was a journeyman winger during his playing career, featuring for 10 teams before retiring in 1997. He boasts great expertise off the pitch, recently leaving Segunda Division outfit Real Zaragoza following the arrival of new shareholders.

Previously, he spent four years as director of football at Valencia from 2000-2004, winning two La Liga titles alongside then head coach Rafael Benitez.

He then moved on to Atletico Madrid, signing renowned players such as Diego Forlan, Simao and Diego Costa during his five-year tenure which ended in 2011.

Garcia Pitarch is a qualified lawyer, who has further been employed by Spanish clubs such as Real Mallorca, Hercules and Espanyol.