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Ali Karimi, after he scored against Al Shabab yesterday when Al Ahli
crushed Shabab 5-1. © Gulf News
GulfNews
Iranian and Al Ahli striker Ali Karimi claims to have received offers
from European and Saudi Arabian clubs for the forthcoming season.
"There are offers from European clubs, and from three Saudi clubs.
But all these offers have come through my agent," endorsed Karimi.
Karimi, however, added that all the negotiations on his transfer was
subject to the acceptance from the Al Ahli club.
"I signed a two-year contract with Al Ahli, a year has passed. If any
club wants to sign me they need to contact Al Ahli. I am still an Al Ahli
player at least for one year more."
Karimi evinced an interest to play in Spain or Italy. "I like Italy
and Spain, if I get a chance to play in Europe, I would like to play in
one of these two countries because the Spanish and Italian league are the
strongest and the best in Europe and the world."
Karimi has scored 13 goals for Al Ahli in the league matches this season.
He claimed that Al Ahli didn't perform well at the start of the league.
"We lost some easy matches and drew others. This affected us in the
second round where we put up a good performance and fought hard to reach
the fourth place in order to play in the super league, but we were
unlucky."
Karimi said the changing of coaches in the club also affected the team's
standard. "Three coaches were changed this season in Al Ahli. In the
beginning of the season we had Sudanese Fawzi Al Taaisha, then Bivarnic of
Slovakia and finally Croatian Srecko. I think the coach needs to spend
time with the team in order for it to settle down and stabilise."
Karimi said the UAE league is a tough tournament, and all the clubs were
in a good form with their best foreign and local players which showed the
tough competition at the top and the bottom. Commenting on the referees
standard, he said, "UAE referees are good, some of them made few
mistakes, and this must happen because they are human beings and not
computers, and football is a game of mistakes."
Al Ahli pro Karimi suggested on a third professional player for each team.
"I think it will benefit the UAE clubs and improve the standard. Two
pros (as the system exists now) are not enough. If one of them is
suspended and the second injured, the team will play without
professionals."
Asked about the deserted stadiums in the UAE league matches which is
watched by few supporters and weather that frustrated him, Karimi said,
"No, this doesn't affect me, although huge crowds are important when
I enter the field I play to implement my coaches tactics and help my team
win without looking at the stands.
Karimi stated that Iran were unsuccessful in the last hurdle when they
lost to Ireland in the play offs for the World Cup.
"We tried hard but were unlucky in the play off," he said. Iran
lost points in the Asian qualifier group to Thailand and Bahrain which
could have put them directly into the finals without resorting to play off
matches.
Ali Karimi forecast that Argentina would win the World Cup. "I think
Argentina will be favourites to win the World Cup. It could also be one
among Italy, France, Spain, Brazil, who will play the Final against
Argentina." The Iranian striker said Luis Figo would be the best
player in the World Cup.
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