Amer Abdulrahman has denied he is poised for a transfer to Al Ain this summer, as speculation continues to link him with the Arabian Gulf League winners.
The Baniyas midfielder, 25, signed an extension with his current club last year, which runs through the 2016/17 season.
However, news emerged this week that Al Ain were interested in acquiring his services, with a cash-plus-player deal mooted. According to reports, Mohammed Abdulrahman, the brother of Al Ain stand-out Omar, was offered in the transfer, although both the player and his club are understood to want Mohammed Abdulrahman to remain in the Garden City.
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Amer Abdulrahman, a member of the Baniyas first team since 2009, appears content to stay where he is, too.
“It’s not true what has been said about me moving to Al Ain next season; this is false information,” he said. “There has been no negotiations of any kind, especially as I am bound by my contract to Baniyas until 2017.
“The Baniyas management is in charge of such matters at this point in time, and my focus is only on the team’s matches and on finishing the season in the best possible shape. After that it will be on to the President’s Cup.
“I am also thinking ahead to next season with Baniyas and improving on our performances this term, so we can hit the team’s and the club’s targets.”
Despite his desire to continue at Baniyas, Abdulrahman seems a good fit for Al Ain, given he has been a key component of the UAE national team’s recent success. In Mahdi Ali’s side, he shares a midfield with Omar Abdulrahman, and it is thought the two would again dovetail well at club level.
There are lingering concerns about Amer Abdulrahman’s fitness, though, since he missed the majority of last season through injury. In 2013/14, he played three league matches; this season, although not completely free from injury, he has featured 17 times. At this year’s Asian Cup, he played in all six of the UAE’s matches as they finished third.
Last summer, Abdulrahman spent two weeks on trial at Blackburn Rovers, the English Championship club, before returning to Abu Dhabi.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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