Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Doha: The 2013 AFC Foreign Player of the Year Muriqui has joined ACL 2014 quarter-finalists Al Sadd for a fee believed to be around US$ 9 million from reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande.
The Doha-based 2011 ACL champions have communicated the news via their official website about the capture of the prize asset of Asian football as Brazilian Muriqui (Luiz Guilherme da Conceição Silva) was the AFC Champions League MVP and Top Scorer last year.
According to the club, Muriqui has successfully passed the medical at the Aspetar hospital. The club also announced his jersey number which is going to be number nine.
Likewise, Guangzhou Evergrande, who secured the services of Italian World Cup winning striker Alberto Gilardino to replace the outgoing Brazilian, also thanked the player for his services to the club where he won the continental as well as three domestic Chinese Super League titles.
The Brazilian was present in Guangzhou’s Chinese FA Cup derby against Guangdong which Marcello Lippi’s side won 1-0 as the match was billed as the official farewell match for Muriqui.
Guangzhou are seeking to successfully defend their title with a quarter-final clash coming in a month’s time against Australian debutants Western Sydney Wanderers while Al Sadd are also in the quarter-finals for the first time after they lifted the continental trophy in 2011.
The Qatari side face experienced ACL campaigner Al Hilal in the quarter-finals with the first leg to be played in Riyadh on August 19.
Photo:AFP