Al Ahli’s Everton Ribeiro: I could have signed for Manchester United

Dubai: New Al Ahli signing Everton Ribeiro has claimed he snubbed approaches from some of Europe’s biggest clubs in order to join the Dubai outfit’s quest to conquer Asia.

The three-times-capped Brazilian midfielder has joined the Red Knights from Cruzeiro and the 25-year-old, at his unveiling at the Rashid Stadium on Monday, insisted he could have moved to England, Italy or France.

“Cruzeiro did not want me to leave, and at the same time I had offers from Monaco, AC Milan and Manchester United. But it was the project of Al Ahli trying to be the best club in Asia and this appealed to me,” Ribeiro told media after signing a four-year deal.

“The core of the Al Ahli project is to be a winner in Asia, and I want to be in a champion club that is having a champion project. I am committed to being part of this big plan of Al Ahli being the biggest club in Asia.”

The Red Knights won three of the four competitions they participated in last season, but are yet to notch a commendable performance on the continental stage in the AFC Champions League, missing out on a knockout place last time out after finishing third behind Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Qatar’s Al Sadd in an extremely tight group.

But the six-time UAE champions have signalled their intentions ahead of the new Champions League campaign, which begins later this month, by snapping up Ribeiro and Moroccan winger Osama Assaidi from Liverpool during the winter transfer window, while allowing Brazilian striker Grafite to join Qatar’s Al Sadd.

“This is a big club and I want to do well here. I have always given my best at my previous clubs and my goal here too is the same,” the highly rated Ribeiro added.

Ribeiro made 52 appearances over two seasons with reigning Brazilian champions Cruzeiro and was called up for national team duty by coach Dunga last September, making his debut as a replacement for Chelsea’s Willian in a 1-0 win over Colombia.

With the arrival of Ribeiro, Al Ahli have a full quota of four foreign players — injured Brazilian forward Ciel, Chilean Carlos Munoz, Assaidi and Luis Jimenez, another Chilean who qualifies as Asian thanks to his Palestinian passport.