The smile always remains loyal to the face of someone whose mean tackles once used to make the predators weep. Fabio Cannavaro, one of Italy’s greatest defenders ever, was unveiled as a new Al Ahli player in Dubai.

By Rituraj Borkakoty

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Published: Sun 4 Jul 2010, 11:53 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 4:07 AM

Cannavaro was the Italian captain when they won their fourth World Cup title in 2006.

After the team’s failure in this World Cup in South Africa, the tough-tackling defender announced his retirement from international football.

Cannavaro, however, is still likes the challenges of club football and when he was offered to play for Al Ahli, he happily accepted to become a part of their ambitious project.

The veteran defender was in great mood as he thanked the management of his new club. “Thank you very much for giving me such a warm welcome. I love this country and Dubai. Hopefully, it will be a good start for me with Al Ahli club,” the former Juventus player said at the unveiling ceremony on Sunday.

There were speculations that Cannavaro might end his club career with his home-town team Napoli.

“Well, I changed the country, but I see that questions are still the same,” he laughed when a journalist reminded him about those rumours.

“Well, I was born in Naples, so it would have been nice to play for them again. But unfortunately, we don’t share the same ideas. So I am happy that I have taken this opportunity to come here and play for Al Ahli in Dubai.

“UAE is a very nice country. It’s very safe for my family and Al Ahli is a club that is looking at the future. Our ideas are similar. That’s why it was a clear choice for him. It was a very easy choice to make.”

His aim

Cannavaro promises to help the rising talents of his new club. “I will bring all my experience to Al Ahli club. I would like to help the younger players. I hope they could learn something important from my experience. We will be able to win the titles with the club.”

The defender, who also spent three seasons with Real Madrid, said his immediate challenge would be to help the club play in the continent. “The main aim will be to enter the Asian Champions League. Last season was not very good for Al Ahli. So I will be aiming to have a good season in the league. There should be a solid foundation for the future growth,” he stated.

Hope for Italy

Despite Italy’s debacle in the World Cup, Cannavaro says he is confident that his country will bounce back. “Yes, that was a terrible chapter for Italian football. But there are new people in the organisation and hopefully things will change. I am really optimistic,” he said.

However, he refused to reveal his favourite for the title in South Africa. “This world cup has been full of surprises. Yes, four good teams have reached the semifinals.

“Spain and Germany are strong. But I have lot of friends and teammates in both the teams, I don’t want to name my favourite.”

New coach

Mark Bell, Sporting Director of Al Ahli Club, announced that David O’Leary would be the new coach at the club. “David O’Leary, former Premier League manager with Champions League experience, has agreed to become the new coach of the Al Ahli football club.

“We will make further announcements later,” Bell informed.

“We are starting a new project. We want to make Al Ahli the best club in UAE. We already have got Fabio. We delighted to have a great player like him.”

rituraj@khaleejtimes.com