Abu Dhabi: Wanderley is hoping to be as prolific as he was at Sharjah for new club Al Nasr as he eyes domestic and continental glory with the Blue Wave.
The 27-year-old Brazilian said on Saturday that he was relishing the chance to “continue my favourite hobby, scoring goals” after moving to the Dubai club on a three-year contract earlier this month.
Wanderley scored an exceptional 32 goals in 51 appearances in two seasons for the perennial Arabian Gulf League strugglers Sharjah and is aiming for bigger and better things with Al Nasr.
Ivan Jovanovic’s men stand on the brink of a historic first Asian Champions League semi-final appearance, with Qatar’s El Jaish standing in their way in next month’s two-legged quarter-final.
Speaking from Al Nasr’s pre-season training camp in Poland, Wanderley praised the “encouraging atmosphere” at the club and added: “We have the ability to compete for all titles.”
Wanderley is Al Nasr’s second foreign recruit of the summer, following the ex-Al Jazira midfielder Abdel Aziz Barrada’s arrival from Marseille.
Jovanovic has also strengthened his side — who finished fifth in the AGL last season — with the capture of the UAE midfielder, Fawaz Awana, from Bani Yas and also sealed a permanent deal for Emirates Club centre-back Mubarak Saeed.
Elsewhere, Emirates Club have fortified their midfield with two foreign signings on one-year deals — the 33-year-old Tunisian international, Hocine Ragued, from Esperance Sportive de Tunis and Augusto Cesar, 23, from Internacional.
This follows the Ras Al Khamaih’s swoop for the 25-year-old Australian centre-back, Zac Anderson, from Sydney FC last month.
