Dubai: Al Nasr hope to confirm the transfers of Nilmar and Jonathan Pitroipa within the coming days, according to a club official.
Brazilian striker Nilmar, 31, from Brazil’s Internacional has been identified as a replacement for wayward Senegalese striker Ebrahima Toure, while Burkinabe winger Pitroipa, 29, from Abu Dhabi’s Al Jazira is set to replace Spanish winger Pablo Hernandez.
Despite scoring 18 goals in 23 Arabian Gulf League appearances for Al Nasr last season, Toure has failed to return to preseason training on time for the second successive year, prompting the 2014/15 League Cup and President’s Cup champions to rule him out of their plans.
“The guy didn’t show up to camp, he’s posting pictures on Instagram of himself enjoying life. We don’t want that kind of mentality and ego in the squad,” said the official.
Nilmar, formerly of France’s Lyon, Brazil’s Corinthians and Spain’s Villarreal, also has experience in Qatar with both Al Rayyan and Al Jaish, and is said to be a worthy replacement to Toure despite scoring just five in 16 appearances for Internacional last season.
Pitroipa, meanwhile, is surplus to requirements at Al Jazira after the arrival of Jefferson Farfan from Germany’s Schalke, despite netting nine times in 25 appearances last season.
“It’s not confirmed yet, but they are coming,” added the official. “Negotiations are ongoing and we hope to have this confirmed by Tuesday — things have to be wrapped up this week because we aren’t far from the start of the season.”
Should Nilmar and Pitroipa join Al Nasr as expected, Ivan Jovanovic’s foreign quota would be complete as they already have Chilean-Palestinian attacking midfielder Luis Jimenez, 31, who joined from Al Ahli this summer, and Brazilian midfielder Renan Garcia, 29, who has been retained.
“Garcia was always an option to stay,” said the official. “He had an amazing season last year, especially defensively, because if you look at the figures I don’t think the club has ever had as many clean sheets as they did last season.”
Meanwhile, Dibba Fujairah have confirmed their foreign quartet with the arrival of Ivorian striker Boris Kabi, 33, from relegated Ajman, and compatriot midfielder Bakary Kone, 26, from Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca.
The pair join Lebanese defender Bilal Najjarine, 34, from Al Dhafra and Brazilian midfielder Elias Luiz, 31, from Saudi Arabia’s Al Fateh.
And Sharjah have confirmed the arrival of Brazilian midfielder Maicosuel, 29, on loan from Atletico Mineiro. He joins compatriot midfielder Renato Caja, 30, who joined last week from Ponte Preta, retained Brazilian striker Wanderley Santos, 26, and Brazilian-Palestinian defender Mauricio Ramos.
