As the 2014/15 season draws to a close, whispers about the next one have started trickling in, with the future of the foreign players and coaches attracting most of the attention.
Al Wahda have confirmed Argentine striker Sebastian Tagliabue and Kuwaiti defender Hussain Fadhel will continue with the team until the end of next season.
That announcement has led to speculations about the future of the two midfielders, Morocco’s Adil Hermach and Damian Diaz of Argentina.
Club officials said they will make a decision about Hermach and Diaz after the end of the season, but reports claim Diaz’s former club Rosario Central are keen to take him back to Argentina and have already started negotiating with Wahda.
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The biggest decision coming out of the Abu Dhabi club at the end of the season could be regarding the future of their coach, Sami Al Jaber.
The Saudi, who did not get off to a great start, still has three league matches and the President’s Cup to prove his credentials.
Tomorrow’s clash against newly crowned champions Al Ain could also provide a few indications.
Munoz on the move
Like Diaz, Carlos Munoz could also be making a return to a former club.
Santiago Wanderers, where the Chilean started his footballing journey in 1995 as a child and stayed until 2011, have already made an offer for the striker, 26, and are waiting for Al Ahli to make a decision.
Ahli brought Munoz from Baniyas on a four-year deal during the last summer transfer window but have left him out of the team in January.
The Chile international has been without a club since and, according to media reports, is ready to accept a 70-80 per cent salary cut to move back to Santiago.
“We have received a lot of offers, but the big priority for me is to return to Santiago, because the club is like a home to me,” Munoz was quoted as saying in the Chile media.
“If it was up to me alone, I would return immediately to Santiago, but it is not my decision alone. I have a contract with Ahli and they have the last word on any deal.”
Dress rehearsal for President’s Cup
As Munoz waits to learn his fate, he could make the drive to Kalba today to watch his Ahli teammates in a President’s Cup dress rehearsal.
The two teams will meet in the President’s Cup on May 15, at the same venue, so this match is a great opportunity for Cosmin Olaroiu’s men to get one-up on their opponents.
It could also be a chance to let off some steam following the refereeing fiasco in their Asian Champions League match at Jeddah, which saw the hosts bounce back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 after Majed Hassan’s sending off.
The players are seething over what they perceive to be a witch-hunt against their team, and this anger could actually be a good thing and unite the squad as the season reaches its climax.
arizvi@thenational.ae
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