Former Real Madrid ace Diarra joins Jazira
dubai — Arabian Gulf League champions Al Jazira have been quite active in the transfer market this summer. Soon after announcing that they had tied up deals with Uzbekistan international Sardor Rashidov and Emirati striker Ahmed Khalil, the Pride of Abu Dhabi now have confirmation that they have landed former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra.
The 32-year-old French international, who has linked with Turkish club Galatasaray, a reunion with Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid and also the Chinese Super League, makes the move to the UAE’s top flight on a free transfer, after his two-year spell with French Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille.
“Al Jazira Football Club has officially announced its contract with French international Lassana Diarra, on a free transfer, as part of Abu Dhabi’s preparations for the upcoming 2017-2018 season,” the club said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The club announced on Monday that it has signed an agreement with international duo Ahmed Khalil and Uzbek Sardor Rashidov. Diarra is expected to join the Al Jazira’s squad in the Dutch city of Venlo in the summer training camp,” the club added.
Diarra played for English Premier League club Chelsea from 2005 to 2007, under Jose Mourinho, during which he won the FA Cup and League Cup in 2007. He also had a one-year spell with Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal from 2007 to 2008. Diarra then joined Portsmouth with whom he won the FA Cup in 2008. Diarra then made the big move to Real Madrid where he made117 appearances across competitions — the La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Uefa Champions League. With the Los Blancos, he won the La Liga in 2011-12, the Copa del Rey in 2010-11 and the Supercopa de Espana in 2012.
Diarra then had stints with Russian Premier League clubs Anzhi Makhachkala and Lokomotiv Moscow. Individually, Diarra was adjudged the Chelsea Young Player of the Year and Chelsea’s Players’ Player of the Year in 2005-06.
Diarra joins Sardor Rashidov and the retained Moroccan midfielder Mbark Boussoufa with Rashidov’s former El Jaish teammate Romarinho expected to complete Al Jazira’s foreign quartet.
It is a fearsome squad with Emirati dream pairing Ali Ahmed Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil leading the line upfront for coach Henk ten Cate.