Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Jeddah: AFC Champions League quarter-finalists Al Ittihad have strengthened their squad ahead of their last-eight meeting with Al Ain by signing Brazilian midfielder Marquinho on a year-long loan deal from AS Roma.
The Saudi Arabian giants announced the deal via social media on Wednesday, one day before the former Fluminense left-winger celebrated his 28th birthday.
After joining Roma in 2012 following three years with Rio-based Fluminense, Marquinho spent the final half of the 2013/14 Serie A season on loan at Hellas Verona, where he scored twice in 15 appearances to help Gialloblu finish a respectable tenth in the 20-team league, eight-places below runners-up Roma.
Two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Ittihad will take on inaugural ACL champions Al Ain in the first-leg of their 2014 quarter-final clash on August 19 in the UAE before the return fixture in Saudi Arabia a week later.
Photo: AFP