Former Arsenal midfielder Denilson’s move to Al Wahda seems to be very much on the cards with the Brazilian confirming to a leading news agency that he will be leaving Sao Paulo.
Though Al Wahda are yet to make an official announcement about the move, it is learnt that the 27-year-old will travel to Abu Dhabi on June 27 to undergo a medical. “I have accepted the offer with a heavy heart because everybody knows about my passion for Sao Paulo,” he said in a statement.
It is learnt that Al Wahda has made a £3.2 million offer for the midfielder, who started his career with the youth team in Sao Paulo before spending five seasons with Arsenal starting 2006.
In 2011, Denilson’s contract was mutually terminated following his loss of form and the emergence of Jack Wilshere. Since then Denilson has been with Sao Paulo and is the third player to leave the club after Rodrigo Caio made the move to Valencia and Paulo Miranda switched loyalties to Red Bull Salzburg.
Denilson, who captained Brazil at both U-15 and U-17 levels and also led them to the runners-up spot in the 2005 Fifa U-17 World Championship, come in place of Adil Hermach - the Moraccoan international who spent over a year and half with Al Wahda.
Al Wahda finished fourth in the Arabian Gulf League and suffered a shock defeat to First Division side Dubai FC in the third round of the President’s Cup. The capital club, who are clearly looking for redemption in the forthcoming season, on Thursday had also officially unveiled Mexican Javier Aguirre as their new coach. Aguirre comes in with tremendous experience having coached Mexico and Japan national teams. He replaced Sami Al Jaber after the club declined to extend the Saudi Arabian’s contract at the season’s conclusion.
Aguirre was the coach of the Mexico national team in two World Cups - in 2002 and 2010. He was also the coach of the Japan national team in the latest AFC Asian Cup held in Australia in 2015 and his stints with many clubs also includes Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
