Dubai: Brazilian attacking midfielder Ronaldo Mendes has joined Al Wasl on a five-year deal from Comercial Vicosa, it was confirmed on Wednesday.
Mendes, 23, is new Argentine coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s first signing since joining the club last month, and replaces Brazilian forward Rogerinho who returns to Kuwait SC after the completion of a six-month loan.
Al Wasl, who finished sixth in the Arabian Gulf League last season under Argentine former coach Gabriel Calderon, will retain Brazilian midfield and forward pairing Fabio de Lima and Caio Correa, but will need to find a replacement for Portuguese midfielder Hugo Viana after he was released at the end of last season.
Elsewhere, newly promoted Hatta Club have signed Burkinabe forward Issiaka Ouedraogo from Austria’s Wolfsberger, Romanian pair Adrian Ropotan, a defender, and Mihai Radut, a midfielder, both from Romania’s Pandurii Targu Jiu, and Jordanian winger Yaseen Al Bakhit from Jordan’s Al Faisaly.
Dibba Fujairah are also on the verge of signing Ivorian winger Hamed Kone from Romania’s Voluntari in what would be their second buy under new Portuguese coach Paulo Sergio since South Korean defender Heo Jae-won from Qatar’s Al Khor.
Newly promoted Ittihad Kalba have retained Romanian striker Mihai Costea, after the arrivals of Iraqi defender Salam Shaker from Saudi Arabia’s Al Fateh, Burkinabe striker Yahia Kebe from Qatar’s Al Kharaitiyat and Spanish striker Camelo Gonzalez from Thailand’s Suphanburi.
