Brazilian Caio brings ambition, youth to Al Ain’s reloaded midfield ahead of Asian Champions League

“Al Ain are well known in the Asian continent and I’m glad to play for them,” said Caio when he was officially unveiled Saturday at a news conference at Khalifa bin Zayed stadium.

Japan's Kashima Antlers midfielder Lucas Fernandes Caio (L) vies for the ball with South Korea's FC Seoul forward Jung Jo-Gook(R) during their AFC Champions League Group Stage football match in Seoul on March 4, 2015. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE / AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE

Amith Passela

Jul 03, 2016

AL AIN – Caio, Al Ain's new Brazilian signing from J League Kashima Antlers, believes the Garden City Club have the potential to challenge for many titles.

“Al Ain are well known in the Asian continent and I’m glad to play for them,” said Caio when he was officially unveiled Saturday at a news conference at Khalifa bin Zayed stadium. “I haven’t come here for no reasons. Al Ain are a club with full potential to challenge all the titles they are playing for. I want to give my best for them to achieve all their objectives and keep the fans happy.”

Caio, 22, arrives on a three-year deal, and along with fellow Saturday signee Amer Abdulrahman will help replace the departing Fellipe Bastos and Ryan Babel in the midfield.

"I had a great time in Japan, but as a professional player I need to take up new challenges," Caio said. "Now I am an Al Ain player, and I want to focus only on what I will do at Al Ain. It's a great opportunity for me to play in the Arabian Gulf League and I'm excited to begin this new challenge."

Caio was awarded the J League’s top rookie award in his first season at Kashima Antlers, where he scored 12 goals in two seasons.

Al Ain open their campaign with the Asian Champions League quarter-final first leg at home against Lokomotiv of Uzbekistan on August 23. The return leg is three weeks later at the Bunyodkar stadium in Tashkent.

Abdulrahman, the 27-year-old Emirati, joins Al Ain after 10 years at Baniyas, also on a three-year deal. .

“I have been a big fan of Al Ain and I know all the players here so well. I am very excited and looking forward to start a new adventure with ambitions of winning titles with them,” Abdulrahman said.

Ghanem Al Hajeri, acting chairman of Al Ain, said the two signings add “more muscle” to an already talented outfit.

“Caio is young and highly talented,” Al Hajeri said. “He joins us at his prime while Amer, as we all are aware, is one of the most outstanding Emirati midfield players in the country”.

[ sports@thenational.ae ]

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