Al Ahli contact Benfica's Aimar over UAE move

Al Ahli director of football Roy Aitken has confirmed the club are interested in signing ex-Argentina international Pablo Aimar but are yet to formally open talks with Benfica.

Reports in the Portuguese media on Saturday suggested the 52-times capped Argentine playmaker was on his way to the Rashid Stadium but Aitken was non-committal and was instead keen to play down the rumours.

“He is one of many, many players we have been in touch with,” Aitken told Sport360°. “Obviously, we would love to have him, he’s a quality player but there are no plans to bring any more players in at this point.”

Aitken also admitted that the situation regarding future recruitment may change in time to come but there are no plans at present to alter a team which is currently in third place in the Pro League.

Ahli have already been busy in the transfer market this January, securing the signature of Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma on a free transfer while shipping out Cameroon midfielder Achille Emana, who struggled to make an impact in the first half of the season.

Should Aimar, 33, be signed by Ahli, it would almost certainly spell the end of Luis Jimenez’s time at the club considering the Chilean plays in the same position, not to mention the Red Knight’s lack of motivation to get rid of their other foreign players, particularly 19-goal top-scorer Grafite.

After becoming one of the many Argentines to be dubbed the ‘New Maradona’, Aimar moved to Valencia from River Plate 12 years ago where he helped lead the club to the 2001 Champions League final as well as two league titles and a UEFA Cup win.

Since then, the Argentine has played in two World Cups as well as having moved around the Iberian peninsula with Real Zaragoza and Benfica, where he won the league title in 2010. 

* For breaking news, follow us on @Sport_360 or find us on Facebook.