Go west, young man. The 19th century saying attributed to a newspaper editor implored Americans to seek fortune and success across the unexplored country.
It’s likely that Omar Abdulrahman would have heard the football equivalent once or twice at the Asian Cup in Australia.
Barely a news conference passed without Mahdi Ali, or the player himself, being asked: “Will Omar move abroad?”
Abdulrahman was as deft at avoiding the question as he is at dodging tackles. But it’s one that he can no longer ignore.
The midfielder has consistently said he is happy at Al Ain. In light of the attention and acclaim he received at the Asian Cup, however, it would be astonishing if he is not seriously considering making that big move.
In Australia, the public could not get enough of him and neither could the media, who were uniform in their praise.
For all the benefits of home comforts, would Omar be happy playing out the rest of his career in front of small, sometimes almost non-existent, crowds?
Surely, his talent, no longer a regional secret, deserves to be shared by a far bigger audience.
On Wednesday night, members of Mahdi Ali’s squad returned to domestic league action for the first time in six weeks. Abdulrahman and Ali Mabkhout, in particular, excelled in Al Ain’s win over Al Shabab and Al Jazira’s over Ajman, respectively.
Al Ain fans had to wait a lot longer than six weeks to see their idol again, and they must be asking themselves for how much longer he will grace Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
This season, the UAE golden boy essentially has been an international footballer.
Before Wednesday, he had not played a minute for his club since the second leg of the 2014 Asian Champions League semi-final on September 30.
In the ensuing four months, Abdulrahman’s life changed. Al Ain supporters should get used to the idea that their hero is a wanted man.
Will Abdulrahman move abroad?
Mabkhout, according to media reports, in Australia, at least, has been more forthcoming about his desire to play abroad.
“I want to play for a club in Europe,” the Jazira striker was quoted as saying. “When I get back to my club I will speak to them about going to Europe because teams there are better than in my country.”
It came across as a cobbled-together statement; almost certainly something was lost in translation. Mabkhout is a soft-spoken, modest man; yet the sentiment is not misplaced.
Perhaps Abdulrahman will be emboldened by Mabkhout’s ambitious stance. Who knows, maybe an enterprising foreign club could audaciously secure the services of the close friends, inseparable on and off the field in Australia.
The personal benefits hardly need repeating: testing yourself against the best players in the world, in front of huge crowds, in some of Europe’s best leagues.
For Emirati football, too, the positives are obvious. The players’ experience would no doubt rub off on their international teammates and improve the side as they aim to qualify for Russia 2018.
No doubt any success abroad will also encourage young Emiratis to follow them.
It would also bring credibility to the AGL, which would be perceived as a competition capable of producing top-class talent and not just importing it.
The AGL gains credibility with each season and Al Ahli’s signing of Brazilian Everton Ribeiro is a sign that international class players can be attracted.
But it is no way near the best leagues in the world and certainly won’t be in the time frame that is relevant to the careers of Abdulrahman and Mabkhout.
Their stock has never been higher and – should they decide to stay on in the AGL – is not likely to hit such heights again unless the UAE qualify to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. By then, Abdulrahman and Mabkhout will be 26 and 27, respectively and, while reaching their peak regionally, arguably too old to make the necessary adjustments to their game in Europe.
Neither was ever likely to leave their clubs halfway through the 2014/15 season, regardless of success in Australia. The summer should be different.
Al Ain deserve huge credit for nurturing what has turned out to be the best Emirati talent in decades, and likewise Al Jazira for their faith in one of the continent’s most feared strikers.
They will not thank those of us calling for the UAE’s star players to try their luck abroad.
For Abdulrahman and Mabkhout, big decisions need to be taken this summer. Their time has come. It really is a case of now or never.
Go west, while you’re still a young man.
akhaled@thenational.ae
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