Al Jazira’s ambitious plans to shake up the club have continued after they agreed an €11 million (Dh45m) fee with Al Hilal for attacking midfielder Thiago Neves, according to reports.
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Neves, 30, has earned a reputation as one of the finest Asian-based players during two trophy-laden spells with the Crescent. If the widespread stories in the Saudi Arabian press are proved correct about a cross-border move to the Arabian Gulf League, this is a harbinger of incoming coach Abel Braga’s influence – the Brazilian duo previously worked together at Fluminense in their homeland from 2012-13.
These rumours follow those from Italy about the attention-grabbing acquisition of Roma winger Gervinho for €13 million (Dh53m). Both Sky Sport Italia and Il Tempo newspapers claim an agreement on personal terms is near to seal the deal for the Ivory Coast international who has scored 11 goals in 57 Serie A appearances.
Either signing clearly shows the Pride of Abu Dhabi’s intention to improve on last term’s second-placed top-flight finish, which is expected to imminently cost boss Eric Gerets his job.
Officials from Jazira and Neves’ representatives could not be reached for comment.
The seven-times-capped Canarinho playmaker – who last featured for his nation in 2012 – has proven a roaring success both times at Hilal. In his first stint from 2009 to 2011, he was highly influential as they lifted the 2009/10 Saudi Professional League and Crown Prince Cup double. The highlight since his 2013 return has been last year’s run to the AFC Champions League final, with the Kings Cup being lifted last Friday after a shootout victory against Al Nassr in which he converted his penalty.
If Neves is to exit King Fahd Stadium, he leaves with a combined total of 40 strikes in 69 SPL games.
The arrivals of the new pair would push out Argentina youth international Manuel Lanzini and Burkina Faso winger Jonathan Pitroipa with 25-goal 2014/15 AGL top scorer Mirko Vucinic and Palestinian-Brazilian midfielder Jucilei rounding out Jazira’s four-player foreign quota.
Meanwhile, the UAE Football Association announced on Monday all home clashes during the 2018 World Cup qualifying process will be held at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. The Whites flitted between grounds during their doomed bid to make the 2014 World Cup, playing at Tahnoun Bin Moha-med Stadium, Al Nahyan Stadium, Rashid Stadium and Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium.
Jazira’s venue will be their base, during a process which kicks off next Tuesday in Malaysia for the opening second-round clash against 146th-ranked Timor-Leste.
Four teams from the Asian Football Confederation are guaranteed to compete at Russia 2018, with another taking part in an intercontinental playoff.