Dubai: Bani Yas Club has told Norway's Aafk Aalesund that UAE league top-scorer Andre Senghor (18) is not for sale at the same time as transfer negotiations with French World Cup winner David Trezeguet heat up in Abu Dhabi.
There were suggestions that Bani Yas was trying to sign 33-year-old forward Trezeguet to replace want-away Senghor but now it seems Trezeguet's signing may quell the Senegalese striker's urge to move to Europe. The Frenchman is slotting in nicely alongside Sergio Rodriguez, Fawzi Basheer and Senghor to complete the club's foreign quartet and improve the second-placed side's chances next season.
The hands off warning from Bani Yas over Senghor comes at the same time as Trezeguet's agent Antonio Caliendo arrived in Abu Dhabi yesterday to hammer out a deal at the club with the former Platense, Monaco, Juventus and Hercules free-agent.
Norwegian press quoted Aafk club director Henrik Hoff as saying: "The club was not interested in selling [Andre Senghor] at all, so they would not negotiate. The club says the player is not for sale."
Long-term solution
Aafk apparently had an offer of Dh5.5 million turned down for the 25-year-old Senghor and a bid closer to Dh9.5 million was not attempted because of the club's no-sale stance.
Hoff said the club would now look elsewhere: "There is still some time left in the transfer window so we are committed to putting a player in place before that time. We are looking for a striker that can be loaned for a short period, while we look for a long term solution."
In a move that had infuriated Bani Yas coach Jorvan Vieira, Senghor had failed to return to Bani Yas in time for pre-season after his summer holidays and it was later found that he was trying his luck with European clubs.
Senghor's agent Bertrand Couly told Gulf News that there was no further news surrounding Andre Senghor's departure from Bani Yas, suggesting his European ambitions may now be on hold.
The prospect of having both Senghor and Trezeguet up front for Bani Yas next season could prove devastating as the club looks to better its second place finish last term.
Not only is Senghor last season's top shooter but Trezeguet is the highest scoring non Italian to have ever donned a Juve shirt, scoring 171 goals between 2000 to 2010 and appearing fourth in their all-time topscorer's list.
