Arabian Gulf League: Royston Drenthe hoping to ‘explode’ with Bani Yas

Abu Dhabi: New Bani Yas signing Royston Drenthe has vowed to “explode” in the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) and will do everything he can to help turn the buoyant Abu Dhabi outfit into champions.

The former Real Madrid left-winger joined the AGL leaders on a free transfer from Kayseri Erciyesspor, the Turkish Super Lig side, last Friday and is targeting “something beautiful” in the UAE.

The 28-year-old, who was unveiled to the media on Tuesday evening, is the Sky Blues’ fourth and final foreign recruit in the transfer window, following the acquisitions of strikers Joaquin Larrivey and Ishak Belfodil and midfielder Mark Milligan.

Drenthe, who has agreed a one-year deal with Luis Garcia’s outfit and who can also operate at left-back, said: “It is obviously going to be hard to get used to the heat and the climate. But hopefully I can explode in the league and create something beautiful.

“I don’t know if we can be champions, but we will certainly do everything we can to get to the top.”

The once-capped Netherlands international, who could make his debut for his new club away to Fujairah on Friday, said his decision to move to Abu Dhabi was swayed by the “warm welcome” he had received from Garcia and his staff.

“I was welcomed with open arms, so the decision was pretty simple,” he said, before dismissing suggestions that his move had been motivated by money.

Bani Yas lead the AGL on six points after two matches, with goal difference separating them from defending champions Al Ain, Al Nasr and Al Shabab.

Drenthe spent four years at Real Madrid between 2007 and 2011 and also had a loan stint at Everton. He was heralded as one of the Netherlands’ brightest prospects when he was named best player at the 2007 Under-21 European Championships as the Dutch retained their title.

Meanwhile, Chilean star Jorge Valdivia has been banned for two matches by the UAE Football Association’s disciplinary committee for his perceived disrespectful gestures to the crowd during his debut for Al Wahda against Al Shabab on Sunday.

A video appeared on social media in which Valdivia was seen gesticulating to fans, but the midfielder protested his innocence by saying: “The finger signal I gave at half-time in the match between Al Wahda and Al Shabab was directed at a group of friends who had attended the match and at no one else. It is a sign that is regularly exchanged between friends in Brazil and Portugal as a joke and does not hold any negative intentions.”

His plea was not heeded, however, and he was handed a ban and a Dh15,000 fine on Tuesday.

Valdivia’s start to the season had already been disrupted after he arrived in the UAE late after his former club, Palmeiras of Brazil, insisted that he had to see out his contract with them.