Manager Dan Petrescu receives offer from a Dubai club in AGL

Former Dynamo Moscow coach, who last year was close to joining Al Nasr, is weighing up a fresh proposal from an unnamed Dubai club, reports John McAuley.

Former Dynamo Moscow coach Dan Petrescu is weighing his options with a possible move to the Arabian Gulf League. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS KIENZLE
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DUBAI // Dan Petrescu, the Romanian coach, is considering an offer to manage one of the Arabian Gulf League’s Dubai-based clubs, according to his agent.

The former Dynamo Moscow manager, who left the Russian side last month, was close to agreeing a deal with Al Nasr 12 months ago, but the move stalled because of a €12 million (Dh60m) release clause in his Dynamo contract.

Petrescu was at Al Maktoum Stadium last week to see Nasr lift the Gulf Clubs Championship, but insisted he was there only as a guest for the final. Anyway, Ivan Jovanovic, the Nasr coach, recently signed a two-year extension.

The most obvious interested party would appear to be Al Shabab, who last week parted company with Marcos Paqueta, their Brazilian coach.

A club source told The National on Sunday there are three candidates for the role, but that Petrescu is not one of them. They expect to have the new coach in place by next week.

Nikolay Pirnau, Petrescu’s representative, said his client is currently assessing a number of options. He would not reveal which Dubai side had contacted Petrescu.

“There have been general discussions with a club in Dubai, but there are different offers from clubs in other countries,” Pirnau said. “Now we have an offer, we have to discuss all the details.

“He would like to manage in Dubai – it’s a good country and good championship – but there are more clubs interested. Now we’re thinking about them. Maybe in two days, four days or one week, we’ll know.”

Petrescu is best known for his nine seasons spent playing in England, including more than 200 games for Chelsea.

He has managed six teams since going into coaching in 2003, the most high profile being his two seasons with Dynamo.

jmcauley@thenational.ae

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