| The National

Jorge Valdivia has said that his reported US$7.5 million (Dh27.5m) move to Fujairah is not motivated by money.

The Chilean midfielder, 30, who spent two years at Al Ain from 2008, is returning to the Arabian Gulf League in the headline transfer deal of the summer. He left Brazilian side Palmeiras to join promoted Fujairah and said critics in Brazil have questioned his reason for agreeing to the move.

“In Brazil they are never happy. When talks were taking place for this deal the first thing people were talking about is that players come here for the money,” Valdivia, who was part of Chile’s World Cup squad, told Emarat Al Ayoum. “But the main reason for coming here is that I have a lot of love and respect for this country ... and when I begin the first minute of the first match, everyone will realise that I came here to win and play my best for Fujairah.

“I do not care [about criticism], because when I came to [Al Ain] they said the same thing, but I am respected a lot by all of the players and this time I’m coming from the World Cup in very good physical state, and have so much energy to play and reap results.

“When the first minute of the first match for Fujairah begins, everyone will realise that I came here to win.”

Valdivia said his previous experience of life in the UAE, where he won the President’s Cup, the League Cup and the Super Cup with Al Ain, helped him make the decision to come back.

“I’m very happy, I came back after a long time to a place that was very good to me, and my family are really happy to return to the UAE,” he said. “This is a new experience and a new challenge for me with a new team. I’m looking forward to this experience being more successful than that with Al Ain.”

Valdivia is part of a strong Fujairah squad for 2014/15 as the promoted side look to make their mark in the top flight.

Ivorian striker Boubacar Sanogo, Ghanaian midfielder Charles Takyi and Hassan Maatouk, the veteran Lebanese midfielder, complete Fujairah’s foreign quarter.

“I usually do not offer promises, but I can say that I will give 150 per cent to get the desired results,” said Valdivia, “and I hope that the team reaps good results and fights a good season.”

He is looking forward to playing against his former club – and beating them.

“It would be nice when I play in front of a team that I had a very good experience with him,” he said. “But I’m currently with Fujairah and I will do everything possible to beat Al Ain.”

Fujairah’s summer spending spree could continue with the signing of Madjid Bougherra, the Algerian World Cup captain.

Despite already filling their four foreign squad places, Fujairah may be pre-empting a move by the Football Association to increase each club’s foreign allocation to five players for 2014/15.

The FA are investigating the possible rule change following a proposal from Al Wahda. Centre-back Bougherra, 30, is a free agent after his deal with Lekhwiya, the team he led to last year’s Qatar Stars League title, expired.

In three years in Doha, he lifted two league crowns and the Qatar Crown Prince Cup.

Bougherra, who also won three Scottish Premier League trophies during his time with Rangers, featured in three of Algeria’s four matches at the Brazil World Cup.

The north Africans surprised by making it out of Group H as runners-up to Belgium, before they took Germany, the eventual champions, to extra-time in the last 16 only to lose 2-1.

jmcauley@thenational.ae

Jorge Valdivia has said that his US$7.5 million (Dh27.5m) move to Fujairah is not motivated by money.