ABU DHABI // Jorge Valdivia’s proposed transfer to Al Wahda remains on track, according to Mohammed Al Rumaithi, chairman of Al Wahda Football Company, dismissing reports that the player is stalling on a move.
The club announced last week on their website that they were in negotiations with the Chile international, who will bid to help his country win the Copa America title for the first time when they take on Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Santiago on Saturday night.
Reports circulating in some media this week suggested that a deal to sign the former Al Ain playmaker was in jeopardy.
There was confusion over Valdivia’s proposed move to Fujairah last summer, when the Arabian Gulf League club said they had signed him after he visited the club and posed with a club scarf.
However, the deal was never finalised.
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“Nothing has changed on Wahda’s stance on the transfer of Valdivia,” Al Rumaithi said during the club’s first training session under new coach Javier Aguirre at Al Nahyan Stadium on Wednesday night.
Al Rumaithi did not elaborate on when the Chilean is expected to arrive in the UAE to undergo a medical, although he could be expected to take some time to recover from his Copa America exploits.
“The player is on national duty, and once that’s over we’ll take it from there,” Al Rumaithi said.
Valdivia is remembered fondly in this country for his performances for Al Ain from 2008 to 2010, when he made a huge impact with his mesmerising footwork and creative play to become one of the league’s most popular players.
The midfielder, 31, has proved he still boasts the same attributes in helping guide Chile to the final of Copa America. Valdivia’s five-year contract at the Brazilian club Palmeiras expires next month, but sources in Brazil said the player can leave one-and-a-half months early.
Should the transfer go off without a hitch, he will no doubt be a welcome addition to Aguirre, the former Mexico, Japan and Atletico Madrid coach who will be officially introduced to the media on Sunday.
Aguirre put his players through their paces for the first time on Wednesday.
The training was mainly confined to conditioning work with the new technical staff while he did the customary meet-and-greet.
The Mexican, 56, had a long discussion with the captain Ismail Matar out in the middle of the pitch before the striker joined the rest of the team.
The Argentine pair Sebastian Tagliabue and Damian Diaz were among the players who showed up at the first official training session.
Brazilian midfielder Denilson is expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi to finalise his transfer from Sao Paulo on Tuesday, with Diaz making way in the squad for the former Arsenal midfielder, although Al Rumaithi said Diaz will continue to train with his teammates while the club listen to offers.
“Diaz is still a Wahda player as he has a contract until the end of the 2015/2016 season,” he said. “He will continue to train with the squad until we get an offer that can benefit both the player and the club.”
Journalists were not allowed to speak to the players or Aguirre, but Al Rumaithi said the new coach had already begun the process of studying some of the team’s matches from last season on video and conducted statistical analysis of the players.
“He was on the job straightaway,” Al Rumaithi said. “All you want to know of him will be answered when the coach is officially unveiled to the media.”
In other transfer news, Wahda have agreed the sale of defender Mubarak Al Mansoori to neigbours Al Jazira on a four-year deal.
They have lined up Al Ain defender Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, 33, as a replacement.
apassela@thenational.ae
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