Dubai: Hatta Club have completed their foreign quartet with the signing of Syrian defender Omar Midani from Syria’s Al Wahda Damascus and Brazilian midfielder Fernando Gabriel from Brazil’s Paysandu.
They join Brazilian striker Samuel Rosa and Romanian midfielder Adrian Ropotan who were both retained under coach Gjokica Hadzievski after the club survived its first top flight campaign last season.
The Tornadoes finished 10th in the Arabian Gulf League and reached the semi-finals of the President’s Cup.
Midani and Gabriel replace Australian defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley, who has joined Australia’s Newcastle Jets and Brazilian striker Rafael Da Silva who rejoins Brazil’s Cruzeiro.
“Fernando arrived in the country yesterday [Sunday] and is currently undergoing his medical to complete a free transfer for one season, the same period was signed with Midani,” a representative from the club told Arabic press.
“Midani will be the club’s Asian player and is expected to join Hatta as soon as he returns from international duty the day after tomorrow [Wednesday].
“Hatta has now completed its foreign roster after renewing two weeks ago with Rosa and Ropotan, who were brilliant in their contribution to ensure Hatta survival last season, and will now play another season.
“In the coming hours all deals will be closed for next season. Internal training will start on Tuesday followed by an external camp in Germany on July 22. The team will play four friendly matches against as yet unidentified opposition.”
Elsewhere, Senegalese striker Moussa Sow has returned to Al Ahli after a loan spell at Turkey’s Fenerbahce last season, and has been included in the training squad for newly created Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club, who were formed after a shock merger between Al Shabab, Al Ahli and Dubai Club, in May.
Al Ahli’s Senegalese striker Makhete Diop has also been retained by the new owners, as has Al Shabab’s Moldovan forward Henrique Luvannor, while Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu has been retained as coach of Shabab Ahli Dubai.
