Al Nasr are set to announce Jonathan Pitroipa as their second expatriate signing of the summer after agreeing a one-year loan deal with Al Jazira for the Burkina Faso winger.
Pitroipa, 29, is expected to join Nasr on Sunday at their preseason camp in Germany and possibly replace Senegalese striker Ibrahima Toure, who has failed to report for pre-season training.
“We have not signed an official deal yet, but all the details have been agreed,” a Nasr official said on Sunday, adding: “An official announcement should be made in the coming hours.”
Player of the Tournament at the 2013 African Cup of Nations, where Burkina Faso were surprise finalists, Pitroipa arrived at Jazira last summer after three seasons at French club Rennes.
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But the Burkinabe could not find a place in new coach Abel Braga’s plans for the coming season and was deemed surplus to requirements, with the Abu Dhabi club bringing in Peruvian winger Jefferson Farfan as a replacement.
A few clubs from the region and Europe reportedly registered interest in Pitroipa, but Nasr, who hope to start the season with an all-new overseas quartet, seem to have succeeded in extending the winger’s stay in the Arabian Gulf League.
Once the deal becomes official, Pitroipa will become the second new signing for the reigning Arabian Gulf Cup and President’s Cup champions. The Dubai club earlier signed former Chile international Luis Jimenez, who also possesses Palestinian nationality, to replace Australian Brett Holman as their Asian player.
Nasr could announce a third new deal soon, with media reports in Brazil claiming the club are close to signing former Brazil striker Nilmar from Internacional on a three-year deal for €3.5 million (Dh14.1m).
According to Brazilian media, Nasr initially offered €2.5m for Nilmar, 31, who has 23 appearances for the national team, but Internacional turned down the offer.
Nasr returned with an improved offer for the player, who had also attracted an offer from Inter Milan this summer, and Internacional accepted. Talks between Nasr and Nilmar over personal terms are ongoing.
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