Alvaro Negredo has spoken with fondness about his time playing in the Arabian Gulf League, although the former Al Nasr captain said he had to leave the UAE to test himself at the highest level once more.
The Spaniard, 35, spent almost two years in Dubai from 2018, scoring 31 goals in 53 appearances, including 25 in 36 matches in the league.
The highlight of Negredo's stay was undoubtedly his role in Nasr landing the 2019/20 Arabian Gulf Cup, when he struck the opener only six seconds into the final against Shabab Al Ahli. It remains the fastest goal in the tournament's history.
The former Real Madrid, Almeria, Valencia and Sevilla frontman is currently back in La Liga, having joined Cadiz last summer on a free transfer. Negredo has continued to find the net, his winner against Eibar on Saturday lifting him to seven goals for the campaign.
Speaking this week via conference call to a selection of Mena-based journalists, Negredo said he feels his output has silenced any doubters who believed his time in the UAE had signalled the conclusion of his distinguished career.
“Honestly, while it’s not up to me because people knew how I could perform, but maybe they didn’t believe in me,” the 2012 European Championship winner with Spain said. “I don’t know if they weren’t happy with my performance or not, but I did well when I was playing in Al Nasr.
Even at 34, Alvaro Negredo too fast for the match cameras. @ALNasrSC captain gives side lead within seconds. Some start #AGCupFinalpic.twitter.com/Yr7FzwbljZ
— John McAuley (@_JMcAuley) January 17, 2020
“We managed to win an important title after a long time, so I feel very good about what happened there. And, on both a sports level and a professional level, it’s a very good club.”
That said, Negredo said he recognised the time was right to return to his homeland, adding: “For me, my body was asking me to continue to play at the very top level. I was very happy in Dubai, but as far as the league’s concerned, it’s not as strong or as competitive. My body wanted more and I wanted to really compete at the top level.
“Football is football everywhere, but it’s true I tried to help in lots of things [at Nasr], not just on the sports level. But I had a different idea about what football and competition is. I wanted to get more people to go watch the matches in the stadiums because it’s very important to have. That’s what should be worked on a lot better, because football is really for the fans; fans are very important.
“They should try and get the stands full because it’s a country that has a lot of expatriates and there’s a lot of people who like football. But they don’t really promote the football too much; I don’t know for what reason.”
Negredo, though, said he would still recommend any of his interested compatriots to make the move to the UAE. The forward enjoyed life away from the pitch too, viewing it as a valuable experience not only for himself, but also for his family. Negredo lived in Dubai with wife Amparo and two of his three children.
“It’s a different mindset; you have to go obviously with very clear ideas,” he said. “I’m not going to mislead anyone, but money is very important.
“However, what I really wanted was to have a new experience, to get to know a different culture. The people there really looked after me very affectionately and with a lot of respect: the fans, members of the team and the people at the club. I have nothing to complain about; as I said, I was very happy there.”
Now at Cadiz, Negredo has been an integral part of the club’s attempts to remain in La Liga. The Andalusians, promoted last season to the Spanish top flight for the first time since 2006, sit 14th in the table at present, six points above the relegation zone with 12 rounds remaining.
Cadiz have managed to record standout victories against both Barcelona and Real Madrid, with Negredo scoring the winner against Ronald Koeman's side at the Estadio Ramon de Carranza in December.
Asked which goal he enjoyed more, that or his memorable strike for Nasr against Shabab Al Ahli, the former Manchester City star said: “Goals are always important; for me, each goal is important. But it’s true, a goal that means you are going to win a title… and especially the way we did it, coming six seconds after the kick-off – well, it was crazy.
“But I was the captain of the team at the time and to lift up the trophy was a very important award.”
