Former Real Madrid, Manchester City and Spain striker Alvaro Negredo is poised to become the latest big-name striker to try his hand in the Arabian Gulf League.

Negredo, 33, joined Al Nasr from Turkey’s Besiktas on Friday on a lucrative two-year deal. La fiera de Vallecas (The beast of Vallecas) is poised for an immediate debut on Friday evening when champions Al Ain come to Dubai.

The UAE’s top-flight has seen a number of centre forward’s with huge reputations take to its fields. Mixed results have been witnessed since professionalism began in 2007/08.

Here, Sport360 runs through the list.

GRAFITE

There was no buyer’s remorse from – the now defunct – Al Ahli after they snapped up Grafite.

The nuanced Brazil striker excelled at Rashid Stadium from 2011-15, exhibiting all the qualities that made him a Bundesliga winner and German Player of the Year at Wolfsburg.

Beyond his 63 goals in 79 top-flight appearances, he set a sterling example on and off the pitch.

ASAMOAH GYAN

Al Ain pushed hard to land the Ghana superstar, their ambition being rewarded with a flood of goals and trophies.

Gyan scored a mind-boggling 128 goals in 123 matches from 2011-15 after his procurement – initially on loan – from Sunderland.

Hail the hero from the Garden City, rather than the injury ravaged figure who underwhelmed on loan at Ahli from Shanghai SIPG during 2016/17.

LUCA TONI

Italy’s World Cup 2006 winner acts as a harbinger of doom for the Blue Wave.

The giant striker was expected to dominate the division once a deal was agreed with Juventus. But beset by injury problems, he scored just three times in eight top-flight appearances before his deal was mutually terminated.

Toni would later witheringly say you cannot play “real football” in the UAE.

MIRKO VUCINIC

The inventive Montenegro striker experienced genuine highs and lows at Al Jazira.

July 2014’s €6 million deal with Juve was repaid by goals; 25 came in 23 AGL matches in an entertaining 2014/15 under Belgium’s Eric Gerets. Tragedy would soon strike, however, in November 2015 when a catastrophic knee injury would eventually lead to retirement.

The 34-year-old has recently registered as a professional golfer.

DAVID TREZEGUET

Blink and you missed him.

The prolific France and Juventus striker inked a one-year deal at Bani Yas in August 2011. A recurring thigh injury and a personal ennui saw his deal scrapped by that November.

This forgettable spell included three listless matches. A move to River Plate in Argentina – the country of his birth – brought Trezeguet back to life and 14 goals followed in 21 Primera B Nacional fixtures.