Al Ahli sign up Madanchi to bolster attack

Dubai: Champions Al Ahli made a surprise move by snapping up Iranian Mehrzad Madanchi from Al Nasr on a one-year contract starting next season.

The 24-year-old will take the place of countryman Milad Midawoodi on the left attack flank with the defending league champions.

This will be Madanchi's third straight year playing in the UAE, having started off with Sharjah's Al Shaab in 2007-08 and then at Al Nasr last season.

Madanchi was not present at the unveiling late on Friday as he had to stay back in Iran due to family commitments.

Al Ahli team supervisor Abdul Majid Hassan was quick to defend his club's decision of signing the Iranian in place of Midawoodi. "Madanchi and Midawoodi have varying styles. Madanchi is more versatile as he can play on the left wing or even in midfield and he is constantly looking at scoring goals," Hassan said.

"In addition, he has far more experience than Midawoodi due to his presence in the national squad," said the official.

Hassan admitted that the UAE champions were targetting Japanese Shunsuke Nakamura instead. "But after the Japanese player signed in Spain [for Espanyol], we started negotiations with Madanchi and were surprised to see them going through with a contract within two weeks," Hassan related.

"Madanchi has proved himself time and again, either with Al Shaab or Al Nasr and with the Iranian team for the past few years. I think he deserved a chance with us and I am sure he will prove himself worthy of the trust laid in him by Al Ahli," Hassan said.