Al Ahli will not replace injured Rodrigo Lima in the transfer window

the Dubai club have re-registered Ciel, the bBrazilian forward who returned to competitive action on Monday following a 15-month break caused by injury.

Rodrigo Lima, second from right, will most likely not play again for Al Ahli this season after undergoing knee surgery. Atta Kenare / AFP

DUBAI // Al Ahli say they do not expect to delve into the transfer market this month to compensate for the loss of Rodrigo Lima, their star striker.

The Brazilian had knee surgery in Portugal this week after sustaining an injury in last month’s Arabian Gulf League clash with Al Shaab and has been ruled out for three months.

Lima, who has scored 19 goals in 24 matches since signing from Benfica this summer, will most likely miss the remainder of the season, since Ahli would have to register him for the league by January 25, the date the transfer window closes.

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Given the length of his rehabilitation, the Dubai club have re-registered Ciel, the forward who returned to competitive action on Monday following a 15-month break caused by injury.

Ahmed Khalifa, the Ahli chief executive, believes Cosmin Olaroiu has more than enough firepower to cope with Lima’s absence, although he did not completely rule out making a signing if required.

At present, Ahli have five foreign players on their books: Ciel, Moussa Sow, Everton Ribeiro, Kwon Kyung-won and Oussama Assaidi, with the latter not registered for the 2015/16 league campaign. Ahli currently sit second in the table at the halfway mark.

“Of course, Lima’s a good player and a key player, a player with the most focus this season, but unfortunately that’s what happened,” Khalifa said. “On the other side, Ciel and Assaidi are still in Al Ahli’s hands, so Cosmin has taken a quick decision that he needs Ciel again.

“I think we won’t buy more foreign players. First, is the time, and then the availability of good players in the market. We are always searching for good players, but players with special skills are not always available in this transfer window.

“So we think we’ll continue the season with Ciel. That’s what’s happening now, but I don’t know what will happen in the future. Maybe in the next two weeks, something will happen, we don’t know. That’s the path we see in front of us now.”

Khalifa also said Ahli do not envisage adding to their Emirati contingent, again citing the difficulty in doing business in the January market. However, he said the club are convinced Ciel can regain his form following a substantial period on the sidelines.

The 33-year-old Brazilian suffered a double-fracture of his ankle in the opening league match of last season and returned only as a late substitute in Monday’s 0-0 draw at Al Wasl.

Khalifa said: “He’s fit enough, was in pre-season with the team in Italy and didn’t miss any training sessions since the first day in the season. But he needs to play more because he’s been away from matches for almost a year and a half.

“We are expecting him to improve and we know he’s very confident in himself to do something.”

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