Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jeddah: New Al Ittihad signing Modeste M'bami has warned the Jeddah giants not to underestimate Guangzhou Evergrande when the two-time AFC Champions League winners take on the tournament debutants in the quarter-finals of this year's edition of Asia's premier club competition.
The former Cameroon international midfielder his first-hand experience of the big-spending China champions having come up against them during the 2011 Chinese Super League season while on loan with Changchung Yatai.
Speaking at a press conference in Jeddah, M'bami (pictured playing for Spanish side Almeria) told reporters: "I know the Guangzhou team as I played against them in the Chinese League. They are very strong, just like Al Ittihad. The matches against them will be very difficult and no one can predict the result."
M'bami is one of a trio of foreign players to enlist with the 2004 and 2005 ACL champions recently, with the ex-Paris Saint Germain player joined at the club by Brazilian attacker Diego Souza (Diego de Souza Andrade), a 16 million Euros signing from Vasco de Gama; and Croatian striker Anas Sharbini, who made his international debut against Qatar.
Experienced continental campaigners Al Ittihad will host Guangzhou in the first-leg of their ACL quarter-final clash on September 19 before the Tigers travel to China for the return fixture on October 2.
Photo: AFP