Man City after Asian player of the year 2007?

[Aziz_10]

Hello everyone! I'm from Saudi Arabia and I want to confirm some news about our national team captain Yassir Al-Qahtani.
This has been circulating in the Hilal-club forums in the last twenty four hours, that Yassir and his agent accompanied the club's president Prince Mohammad bin Faisal are currently in England responding to an invitation from Manchester City's president Thaksin Shinawatra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaksin_Shinawatra) (I'm not sure if I gave him the correct title).

However, Yassir wasn't discovered by the clubs' scouts or because he won the award as far as I'm told, it was because the Thai ex-PM has a Saudi businessman partner who advised him to get the player.

So, Thaksin asked for some tapes (I know it doesn't sound authentic but bear with me anyway), and he was impressed so he asked if the player is willing to play abroad (are you kidding me?) and the answer was yes from the player's agent Turki Al-Mugairen.

Eventually the player, the agent, and the prince were invited to attend the carling cup game against the Spurs which was last night, then they sit for preliminary negotiations and such.

Sorry for the long intro but the details are posted in the official forums of Al-Hilal club and I had to explain the (still-rumor) for me.

Is it true? does anyone have any idea about this?

About the player, trust me he's worth it.. if Ericksson gives him a chance he'll blow your minds away.


You may say that I'm confirming and shamelessly informing you about a player that I admire greatly while being confident that he can do it if he gets the chance.

Here is a clip of some of his Capabilities. Please do not get the idea of a "Ronaldinho-wannabe" from this clip is it focuses on his dribbling and not his scoring abilities not to mention his valuable assists as he did in the last Asian cup while maintaining his hobby of scoring.

http://www.acmilanclub.com/Kaka_Nesta/Video/yasser20.wmv

He was one of the reasons why Saudi Arabia were the most entertaining team in the Asian cup, I'm not only saying that because I'm Saudi and it's true but because it's a thing that most Pundits agreed on. (Refer to Saudi arabia vs Japan).

Sorry for leeching your time, I hope you enjoyed what you've seen and please let me know if it's true.

[Aziz_10]

Well, it's been confirmed on the official site of Man City. Good luck to our Sniper!

[Lynne_mcfc]

Well, it's been confirmed on the official site of Man City. Good luck to our Sniper!

Thanks for your previous post. You beat me to it, I had just read the article on mcfc.co.uk and was just about to post it on to the forum. Here you go:

"Saudi Arabia captain Yasser Al Qahtani is set to begin a trial with Manchester City at the Club's Carrington Training Centre.

Al Qahtani, a 25-year-old striker, confirmed the trial stating: "I'm now in England after I got an invitation letter from Manchester City.

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

The Asian player of the year is pleased at being given the opportunity and added: "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."

Currently with Saudi club, Al-Hilal, the 2007 Asian Cup top scorer is rumoured to have attracted interest from Chelsea but Sven-Goran Eriksson can now have a closer look at Al Qahtani as he trains with the City squad at Carrington.

Leon Collins"

I hope Yasser likes the cold and the rain! :) and warm bitter, fish and chips and meat pies! Here's to a great try out with the team at Carrington and hopefully he'll prove to be the up front player we've been missing. :D

[MVF]

Just on the one thing. "Asian POTY" is a subjective title. Only avaliable to those that can turn up on the night, meaning no player plying their trade in europe can win the award. So it's not the best player from Asia as many would read it.

Still a welcome addition if he can play though.

[Aziz_10]

Anytime Lynne, and we hardly get any Rain here in Riyadh so I guess he'll be glad to see some rainy days he he.




Just on the one thing. "Asian POTY" is a subjective title. Only available to those that can turn up on the night, meaning no player plying their trade in Europe can win the award. So it's not the best player from Asia as many would read it.

Still a welcome addition if he can play though.

Very true, though Yasser proved his worth against all the Asian counterparts in the last Asian cup.

Plus, the award should include the Asians players abroad but the fear of the player's not showing up isn't just reserved for them (Asians in Europe). As bin Hammam threatened anyone who misses it will be punished by a ban for a year in Asian cups and such.

Asians playing in Europe were excluded because of a personal preference from the Chairman as he wanted to narrow it down to Players originating from the Arab Gulf so his Qatari players can have a chance winning it even if they didn't deserve it. Like the Qatari player who nobody even knew about that won it from M.Shalhoub the best playmaker in Saudi Arabia.

Eventually we find out that the Qatari player who won was a relative to Bin Hammam :p



Yasser had to sacrifice almost not showing up for a crucial Saudi League match for that award.

I'm biased yes, but I bank on Yasser as he is a true talent and not just looks like one. I hope he'll get his much deserved chance.


Just have some faith in him he's an incredible player.

[MVF]

I'll take your word for it.

What kind of player is he ?

Stocky striker ? Skillfull ?

[Lynne_mcfc]

I'll take your word for it.

What kind of player is he ?

Stocky striker ? Skillfull ?

Stocky striker - No, he's 5' 5", slim to medium build, and has a real talent for heading the ball (watch some of the footy clips of him on youtube).

Skillful - definitely, he's quick and a handful (I'd like to see how our back four mark him in training :) ).

Can't wait to see him play in the first team. :D

[Aziz_10]

So, latest news here in Saudi Arabia that Man City and Al-Hilal Agreed a loan deal worth of 2 mills for a year.

Glad to hear that if it's true!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/Kubaj/mn5.jpg
By the way here is a picture from left to right: Agent, Prince/President, Yasser, Sven and the happy weird guy probably The Saudi Businessman who advised Thaksin to get Yasser.


Edit:

It's official Yassir wants the experience and he agreed to join Man city for a year, if he makes a good impression then they'll sign him!

Finally! :D

[Saudi64]

Stocky striker - No, he's 5' 5", slim to medium build, and has a real talent for heading the ball (watch some of the footy clips of him on youtube).

Skillful - definitely, he's quick and a handful (I'd like to see how our back four mark him in training :) ).

Can't wait to see him play in the first team. :D
He's an excellent player in headers, might be a bit short, but has a huge jump. He is very skillful, and is used to go back in the midfield and creating chances and dribbling. Great forward overall, but thats on the Asian level, on international level he has scored a goal in the WC 2006 against Tunisia, and 2 goals against Ghana in a friendly this year. But who knows if he's going to do well in MC, might suck, and might play good, time will tell.

[MarocFAN]

I've heard on aljazeera thath Man City wants to pay 20million for Alqahtany. Is this true? Cause it's too much.

[Sharkie]

I've heard on aljazeera thath Man City wants to pay 20million for Alqahtany. Is this true? Cause it's too much.

Probably 20m Saudi riyals = 2.7m pounds. That'll probably be the fee "if" he signs for them at the end of the season, if this loan deal is official. Wait and see.

I think if he does join then the experience, the cold weather and physical challenges will help him improve, and hopefully get a few more Saudi hopefuls out into the European scene.

[israel972]

Chelsea were interested in this player but he refused.

This player is a Racist.he said "he'd rather shoot himself that play under and Israeli manager". I find this very disgusting and I'm very happy he decided not to play for Chelsea.

Does anyone know if Nery Castillo has officially been loaned because he's a much better play than Al-Kattany thats for sure.

[Lynne_mcfc]

Chelsea were interested in this player but he refused.

This player is a Racist.he said "he'd rather shoot himself that play under and Israeli manager". I find this very disgusting and I'm very happy he decided not to play for Chelsea.

Does anyone know if Nery Castillo has officially been loaned because he's a much better play than Al-Kattany thats for sure.

I'm sorry that you posted this comment, regardless of whether the player made them or not.

In answer to your question about Nery Castillo, yes he has signed on loan. Here's the link from mcfc:

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=115&pagegid=%7BDBD12D53%2D8346%2D431D%2DA04F%2D5D0F8664DE80%7D&newsid=517100&siteid=&pageno=2&newscategory=&frommonth=10&fromyear=2007&tomonth=12&toyear=2007

[israel972]

I'm sorry that you posted this comment, regardless of whether the player made them or not.

In answer to your question about Nery Castillo, yes he has signed on loan. Here's the link from mcfc:

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=115&pagegid=%7BDBD12D53%2D8346%2D431D%2DA04F%2D5D0F8664DE80%7D&newsid=517100&siteid=&pageno=2&newscategory=&frommonth=10&fromyear=2007&tomonth=12&toyear=2007

The player did make the comment, I wouldn't make up something as serious as that.

http://www.sport5.co.il/articles.aspx?FolderID=394&docID=29852&lang=HE

The player may not believe these views, but I know if he decided to play for Chelsea he would become hated in his country at least that's what the media are saying. To me this is racism, and I don't know how someone could argue against that so I question you for condemning my recent comment.

[Saudi64]

The player did make the comment, I wouldn't make up something as serious as that.

http://www.sport5.co.il/articles.aspx?FolderID=394&docID=29852&lang=HE

The player may not believe these views, but I know if he decided to play for Chelsea he would become hated in his country at least that's what the media are saying. To me this is racism, and I don't know how someone could argue against that so I question you for condemning my recent comment.
He never said something like that, and he never even talked about the chance of playing with Chelsea yet, and this is in the Saudi media, which IMO would be the first to mention something about Yasser, whether true or even false.

Even if he did go, no one would hate Yasser for going to Chelsea. Yes maybe some people would mention that the manager is Israeli, but no one would give a damn, he's going to play in Chelsea. Besides the trial given from Chelsea to the Asian Best Player is more talk than action, last year they said that the Asian Best Player Ibrahim Khalfan would go, but he didn't.

[chinesefootballfan]

On December 22nd, 2007 Al-Qahtani has signed a 2 million euros deal with manchester city. to play with them for one year starting in jaunary, 1st, 2008.

Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Al-Qahtani

I'm not sure if someone else has mentioned this already, but the deal is now official. What can I say???? He's obviously dominating Asia, being awarded Asian Player of the Year in 2007 and scoring 44 goals in 55 international appearances for Saudi Arabia. However, Asian Football is Asian Football, it's no where near EPL. I guess for 2 million Euros, the risk associated with failing is very low.

I do have a few concerns. What's going to happen to our following strikers?

Samaras
Vassel
Bojinov
Mpenza
Sturridge
Etuhu

I know that Nery Castillo will for sure play on a regular basis and Bianchi should be a keeper as he's been scoring lately. Bojinov is going to return from injury and with Yasser Alqathani in our lineup, what are we going to do with all these strikers? We have too many. If we have Castillo, Bianchi, Bojinov, and Yasser Alqathani as our regulars, we really need to get ride of some of the others.

[israel972]

On December 22nd, 2007 Al-Qahtani has signed a 2 million euros deal with manchester city. to play with them for one year starting in jaunary, 1st, 2008.

Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Al-Qahtani

I'm not sure if someone else has mentioned this already, but the deal is now official. What can I say???? He's obviously dominating Asia, being awarded Asian Player of the Year in 2007 and scoring 44 goals in 55 international appearances for Saudi Arabia. However, Asian Football is Asian Football, it's no where near EPL. I guess for 2 million Euros, the risk associated with failing is very low.

I do have a few concerns. What's going to happen to our following strikers?

Samaras
Vassel
Bojinov
Mpenza
Sturridge
Etuhu

I know that Nery Castillo will for sure play on a regular basis and Bianchi should be a keeper as he's been scoring lately. Bojinov is going to return from injury and with Yasser Alqathani in our lineup, what are we going to do with all these strikers? We have too many. If we have Castillo, Bianchi, Bojinov, and Yasser Alqathani as our regulars, we really need to get ride of some of the others.

I think Mpenza is getting older and though hes a decent scorer he isn't needed. Bojinov is a good player hasn't been given the chance and has been injured. Bianchi is showing his class, Vassel has great speed and Etuhu looks like hes going to be great. I think Nery Castillo can play an attacking midfield roll and hopefully Alqatani can do the same for city.

[Aziz_10]

I don't know what to say. Quite frankly I'm depressed to hear that the deal was murdered by some invisible hands that opposed Yasser's ambitious exit to City.

Well I knew there were some unhappy princelings who opposed the move from the start because they don't like it, but I didn't expect that it would be an obstacle especially since the FA declared that it would interfere if anything goes wrong in any Saudi's player experience abroad after Ahmed Al-Suyalih's failed deal with the Austrian side that has Trapattoni as a coach (red bull something).

Anyway. Yasser didn't say anything about Chelsea or shooting himself in the foot as some might have read. I never seen/heard or read it here in Saudi Arabia.

If the FA doesn't interfere then there will be no City move.

[Alan D]

The move is not official yet. The latest news is that he has had his trial and has been sent back and it only lasted for a day or so, but a deal may well be sorted in January. Anybody can edit Wikipedia so it isnt a very reliable source of information, if it happens it will appear on the official site.

[SoccerCityFC]

It appears that Saudi Arabian captain Yasser Al-Qahtani is ready to sign for Manchester City. Earlier reports had him rejecting City's offer due to contract issues that were not financial. Stay tuned to media reports.