Ricardo Quaresma joins Al Ahli

Former Besiktas attacker Quaresma joins Al Ahli

Jan 8, 2013 9:40:00 PM

The 29-year-old Portuguese has swapped Turkey for Dubai in a move that ties the winger to the UAE club for 18 months

Portugal international Ricardo Quaresma has completed a move to Dubai-based club Al Ahli following his release from Turkish side Besiktas.

Capped 36 times for his country, the attacker signed an 18-month contract with the UAE side with the option to extend his stay in the Arab nation for an additional year.

Following his arrival, Al Ahly chief executive Ahmed Khalifa hailed Quaresma's addition to the squad as a sign of the club's intention to climb up the league table.

"We are always trying to improve the squad and provide the coaching staff with the tools they require for creating a successful team," Khalifa told the press.

"We have brought Quaresma with the same intention and I am confident his presence will be a great boost in the second half of the season. It should give us a push in our title chase.

"During this transfer window, it is very difficult to find players of quality like Quaresma," he went on. "But we were lucky that he is a free agent.

"He was in Dubai, he saw the country and liked it. That made the task of convincing him a lot easier."