Ali Reza Khalatbari could make his Al Wasl debut against Dubai tonight after joining Diego Maradona's team on a six-month deal.
The Iranian attacking midfielder, who has won 44 caps for his country, has joined from the Qatari side Al Gharrafa, and the Dubai club are hopeful that he will be registered in time to take his place in the squad this evening.
Khalatbari replaces Richard Porta, the forward who holds Uruguayan and Australian passports, as the club’s Asian player. Porta has been deemed surplus to requirements, along with Edson Puch.
Wasl already signed Fahad Salem Hadeed from Sharjah last month.
"We are using the current winter transfer window to restructure parts of the team based on our evaluation of the players in the past four months and after discussions with coach Maradona," Marwan Bin Beyat, chairman of Al Wasl, said.
“Ali Reza is an exceptionally talented player and has the experience and skills that will help add value to the team. ”
Khalatbari is excited by the chance of working alongside Maradona. “It is an honour to work under Diego Maradona, and it still feels like a dream, but I’m here to work hard and try to quickly gain a starting spot and win the confidence of the fans, management and, of course, the coach,” Khalatbari said.
Meanwhile, Maradona believes Wasl are being unfairly targeted by officials after the club were forced to play two games, starting tonight, away from Zabeel Stadium because fans lit flares in a match against Al Nasr. Earlier in the season, Maradona was fined for criticising Cosmin Olariou, the Al Ain coach.
“I do feel Al Wasl are being targeted with these excessive bans and punishments,” Maradona said. “A fine would have sufficed, but a stadium closure and moving our next two games is very excessive. I have never seen a team other than us get punished this way. It saddens me.”
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
