Abu Dhabi: Al Ain left for Austria on Thursday night to start their third training stint ahead of the new season. During the camp, Al Ain will play three friendlies and will return back to the UAE on August 12.
Al Ain started the preparation for the new season from July 1, before heading to Italy for the first phase. They played three friendly matches and won all of them, beating Montikatini 2-0, Vulgori San Marino 7-1, and Barnsley 2-1.
At home, Al Ain were a part of the Al Ain Club AIFC 2014 as hosts and won the title after beating Kuwait 4-0 and drawing with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nasr 1-1.
Al Ain’s immediate goal is the Asian Champions League first-leg match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad on August 19.
Meanwhile, the Arabian Gulf League outfit have retained their star Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan in the team until 2018 and resigned striker Kembo Ekoko from Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Dembo had been on loan to Qatari Club El Jaish.
Other foreign players on Al Ain’s books are 24-year-old Slovakian international Miroslav Stoch and Lee Myung-joo from South Korea.
Stoch has joined on a one-year loan deal from Turkish club Fenerbahce, while Dh18.3 million signing Myung-joo has made the switch from South Korean side Pohang Steelers.
Al Ain have also renewed the contracts of four players — Ahmad Barman, Mohammad Busandah, Saeed Musabeh Al Menhali and Khalid Khalfan.
“I thank my colleagues the players and all of Al Ain people. I’m proud of being from Al Ain team as one of the strongest teams in Asia,” said Barman adding: “Al Ain is different from other teams as they are one family and I’m proud to be a member of this family. I have limitless aspirations and I will do my best in the coming matches to meet the expectations of our administration and fans.”
