Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: United Arab Emirates outfit Al Ain have bolstered their squad ahead of the 2016 AFC Champions League campaign after announcing the signing of Colombian Danilo Asprilla.
The winger was unveiled on Monday night after passing a medical and signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the reigning Arabian Gulf League champions, who – along with Al Nasr – are the two teams from UAE certain to participate in the Champions League proper come February.
Having completed his move from Bulgarian side Litex Lovech, 26-year-old Asprilla is set to replace former Liverpool and Netherlands forward Ryan Babel, who is out of favour at the club and is strongly tipped to move to Turkey this month.
With his experience playing in Colombia, Uruguay and Bulgaria, plenty will be expected of Asprilla and the player is under no illusions what pressure he will be under at the UAE’s most-successful club.
“I know the club’s goals are high and I understand what is required of me as a professional player here,” he said, according to The National.
“I always challenge myself to be better and to give a strong performance, which I look forward to showing at Al Ain.
“I achieved a lot with my team in Bulgaria and now is the time to enter into a new experience.”
Asprilla also revealed he rebuffed the advances of Saudi Arabia giants Al Ahli, as well as several European clubs, to sign for Al Ain.
And although he may not be as famous a name as Babel is, Al Ain manager Zlatko Dalic believes Asprilla will fit in just fine at the club.
The Croat explained: “I hope that my decision will prove to be the right one, as I have a lot of information about the player and I know he possesses the qualities we need to reinforce the team.
“We had sent scouts to monitor the player at his old club, and I would like to thank Al Ain’s board for backing my decision to recruit Asprilla.
“As I said, I was in need of a young and improving player, and not a big name, to help us reach our targets this season.”
Despite their status as the most successful team in UAE, Al Ain have only won the Champions League once – in 2003 – and last reached the final in 2005.
Photo: Lagardère Sports