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Diego Maradona demands Al Wasl offer him funds or he'll quit
The former Argentina coach is angry with club management for affording him only a 'restricted budget' during January, while other clubs signed players like Luca Toni
09-Feb-2012 8:05:00 AM
By Ben Somerford
Maradona, Wasl uae (Getty)
Al Wasl coach Diego Maradona has called on club management to give him more transfer funds or else he will walk away from his contract in Dubai.
The Argentine, whose side are currently fifth in the Pro-League, was vocal after Al Wasl only signed two players in January after he said he was promised eight new additions.
Maradona told reporters he was disappointed with Al Wasl's “restricted budget” and wanted to be able to acquire players like Al Nasr's new signing Luca Toni.
"We had a list of players we wanted to sign but weren't able to because of the restricted budgets we were forced to work with, so we have to try and work with what we have and perform well until the end of the season," he said according to Sport360.
"Next season we will need to have a big budget to sign players who will help us compete, if that doesn't happen then I'll be forced to return the contract and back down from my job.
He added: "All I am asking for is to be in the same position as the other clubs in the UAE. Look at Al Nasr, they have invested in big players like Luca Toni and I just want it to be similar here to the other teams.
“That's not unachievable and this is what I want for next season."
Meanwhile, Al Ahli boss Quique Sanchez reportedly turned down an offer from Spanish La Liga club Sevilla to be their new coach this week.
Al Ahli director of football Roy Aitken told Sport360: “Quique was preparing for the game against Emirates Club tonight so the players trained as normal yesterday. Everything was fine. There was no change in Quique whatsoever.”
He added: “It doesn’t surprise me if teams in Spain were interested in Quique as I have been very impressed with him and his staff and the job they’ve been doing.”
The Argentine, whose side are currently fifth in the Pro-League, was vocal after Al Wasl only signed two players in January after he said he was promised eight new additions.
Maradona told reporters he was disappointed with Al Wasl's “restricted budget” and wanted to be able to acquire players like Al Nasr's new signing Luca Toni.
"We had a list of players we wanted to sign but weren't able to because of the restricted budgets we were forced to work with, so we have to try and work with what we have and perform well until the end of the season," he said according to Sport360.
"Next season we will need to have a big budget to sign players who will help us compete, if that doesn't happen then I'll be forced to return the contract and back down from my job.
He added: "All I am asking for is to be in the same position as the other clubs in the UAE. Look at Al Nasr, they have invested in big players like Luca Toni and I just want it to be similar here to the other teams.
“That's not unachievable and this is what I want for next season."
Meanwhile, Al Ahli boss Quique Sanchez reportedly turned down an offer from Spanish La Liga club Sevilla to be their new coach this week.
Al Ahli director of football Roy Aitken told Sport360: “Quique was preparing for the game against Emirates Club tonight so the players trained as normal yesterday. Everything was fine. There was no change in Quique whatsoever.”
He added: “It doesn’t surprise me if teams in Spain were interested in Quique as I have been very impressed with him and his staff and the job they’ve been doing.”
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