Dubai: Al Ahli’s bid to sign Brazilian striker Luiz Adriano from the Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk has failed after the player refused to discuss personal terms, according to reports.
Red Knights’ chairman Abdullah Al Naboodah tweeted last Wednesday that Shahktar had agreed to Al Ahli’s €8 million (Dh32.8 million) bid for the 28-year-old, with only personal terms and a medical left to complete.
“It was agreed with Shakhtar Donetsk on the transmission to Al Ahli of Luiz Adriano. The details for the financial contract of the player and medical examininations will happen in the coming days, we ask God for success,” said Al Naboodah.
However, Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu has since revealed the player was never interested in a move to the Arabian Gulf League. “Luiz Adriano did not want to extend his contract and we reached an agreement with Al Ahli, but the player doesn’t want to go there,” Lucescu told the media.
“Now maybe other clubs will go into competition with each other, such as Roma, Milan and Monaco, the same sides that wanted him last winter.
“He has another six months left to run on his contract, but it would be better for us to get some money for him.
“The lad did not accept the proposal from the UAE, one that was very advantageous for us,” he added.
“It’s a pity, as we want to sell him now and cannot afford to lose him on a free transfer in January. If Milan want him, they ought to know we won’t just give him away.
“If he doesn’t accept a transfer, we cannot rule out dropping him for the next six months. Our hope is to sell him now. I realize that other clubs want to take advantage of our financial situation, but we have to look out for our interests.
“We are a big club and if Milan want Luiz Adriano, they have to pay for him.”
Adriano’s snubbing of Al Ahli is a setback for the Al Ghusais outfit’s plans, who failed to retain the title last season due to a lack of goals.
The club have also been linked with Newcastle United’s Papiss Cisse and Hull City’s Nakica Jelavic, after missing out on Besiktas’ Demba Ba who instead joined China’s Shanghai Shenua.
