Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive


Ali Karimi, after he scored against Al Shabab yesterday when Al Ahli crushed Shabab 5-1. © Gulf News

GulfNews

Iranian and Al Ahli striker Ali Karimi claims to have received offers from European and Saudi Arabian clubs for the forthcoming season.

"There are offers from European clubs, and from three Saudi clubs. But all these offers have come through my agent," endorsed Karimi.

Karimi, however, added that all the negotiations on his transfer was subject to the acceptance from the Al Ahli club.

"I signed a two-year contract with Al Ahli, a year has passed. If any club wants to sign me they need to contact Al Ahli. I am still an Al Ahli player at least for one year more."

Karimi evinced an interest to play in Spain or Italy. "I like Italy and Spain, if I get a chance to play in Europe, I would like to play in one of these two countries because the Spanish and Italian league are the strongest and the best in Europe and the world."

Karimi has scored 13 goals for Al Ahli in the league matches this season. He claimed that Al Ahli didn't perform well at the start of the league.

"We lost some easy matches and drew others. This affected us in the second round where we put up a good performance and fought hard to reach the fourth place in order to play in the super league, but we were unlucky."

Karimi said the changing of coaches in the club also affected the team's standard. "Three coaches were changed this season in Al Ahli. In the beginning of the season we had Sudanese Fawzi Al Taaisha, then Bivarnic of Slovakia and finally Croatian Srecko. I think the coach needs to spend time with the team in order for it to settle down and stabilise."

Karimi said the UAE league is a tough tournament, and all the clubs were in a good form with their best foreign and local players which showed the tough competition at the top and the bottom. Commenting on the referees standard, he said, "UAE referees are good, some of them made few mistakes, and this must happen because they are human beings and not computers, and football is a game of mistakes."

Al Ahli pro Karimi suggested on a third professional player for each team. "I think it will benefit the UAE clubs and improve the standard. Two pros (as the system exists now) are not enough. If one of them is suspended and the second injured, the team will play without professionals."

Asked about the deserted stadiums in the UAE league matches which is watched by few supporters and weather that frustrated him, Karimi said, "No, this doesn't affect me, although huge crowds are important when I enter the field I play to implement my coaches tactics and help my team win without looking at the stands.

Karimi stated that Iran were unsuccessful in the last hurdle when they lost to Ireland in the play offs for the World Cup.

"We tried hard but were unlucky in the play off," he said. Iran lost points in the Asian qualifier group to Thailand and Bahrain which could have put them directly into the finals without resorting to play off matches.

Ali Karimi forecast that Argentina would win the World Cup. "I think Argentina will be favourites to win the World Cup. It could also be one among Italy, France, Spain, Brazil, who will play the Final against Argentina." The Iranian striker said Luis Figo would be the best player in the World Cup.

 

Top