Wednesday, December 19, 2007

City take Saudi captain on trial

ASIAN Player of the Year and Saudi Arabia captain Yasser Al Qahtani will have a trial with Manchester City.

The 25-year-old striker arrived in Manchester with Al Hilal president Prince Mohammed Bin Faisal, with Sven-Goran Eriksson and his City coaching staff preparing to take a closer look at the player.

"I'm now in England after I got an invitation letter from Manchester City," said Al Qahtani.

"I'm here with Al Hilal president Prince Mohammed bin Faisal and my agent Turki Al Mukairin.

"I'm glad to train with such a good club in England and I will try my best to prove that Saudi players are good players."

-MEN.

My first reaction to this is one of scepticism.

I can't confess to have heard of this guy, let alone know whether he is a decent player or not. Perhaps it is a bit of a PR move to generate some interest in what is a lucrative market, but on the back of last nights defeat it became even more apparent that attacking reinforcements are needed in January - and these need to be of a quality nature, with a proven record.

I may be proved wrong but I don't see it with this signing.

Wikipedia page.

vote it up!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Last nights match was like boxing with your Dad when you're 8 yrs old. He places his hand on your forehead and arm full stretched, try as you might you're never going to punch him.

We need long arms and I've very big doubts about Vassell or Mpenza reaching. Bianchi needs time to show his potential and we know nothing about Bojninov or Castillo .........

Anonymous said...

he is very gd player

I`ve seen him in asia cup when australia was playing there

he was the top socclar

Man city ganna have many advantages from him if he sign:

first of all he is the best asia and they call him the sniper and man city neeed a sniper

the second thing man city ganna sales alot of shirts in middle east coz he is the onley saudi player in eurpoe

best of luck forman city and alqtani

thnx mate

Anonymous said...

Small,speedy-but then what can be said about the standard of the Saudia Arabian league.
Commercially no doubt about it - yes.
Knowing Citys approach at the moment- Prince Faisal will no doubt pay City for taking the player.
Why did he not go to Chelski for trials? Grant and ben-Haim are Israeli perhaps?
My only worry is that we do not lose out on our academy grown strikers suchas Etuhu/Evans/Sturridge/Grimes and Miller.
Admit to looking forward to the transfer window.

Anonymous said...

Am sure Man City will benefit alot from such a player as Alqahtani

The most popular palyer in Asia, and player of this year 2007.

ManCity will make history if they sign with him, cuz his young & he is verey gifted striker, with great karizma.

Anonymous said...

The blog Culture of Soccer did a big piece on why few (almost zero) Saudi players play abroad.

http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/04/26/why-saudi-arabias-players-dont-go-abroad/

There are cultural reasons but it's similar to why few English players play abroad -- the pay is better at home -- but as recently as 1994 (maybe later) Saudi players were banned from playing outside the home country.

Anonymous said...

Its not cultural as much as it is material like you said, but he is a gifted and young player as well as being very ambitious. I mean you have to give the guy credit of leading a young and less experienced saudi team to the asian finals and taking honours of top goal scorer of the tournament. Bottum line .. if they sign him I assure you that he will blossum quickly to a regular goalscorer on the sheet

Anonymous said...

I think he is a superb player, one of best asian player ever seen. Amazing strikes, what a sniper, i watched many saudi matches in youtube abt this guy. I think he is unbelieveably good. Man city will benefit by singing him in