Socceroos captain Lucas Neill linked with move to Qatar - report

Aug 9, 2012 11:20:00 AM

The 34-year-old was expected to stay in the Middle East after his release this summer from UAE club Al Jazira, and may get that chance with Qatari outfit Al Sailiya

Lucas Neill has been linked with a move to newly promoted Qatari Stars League club Al Sailiya.

The Australia captain and former Blackburn and West Ham defender is available on a free transfer after leaving United Arab Emirates Pro-League outfit Al Jazira in June, with Football Australia claiming the Doha-based club have registered an interest in him.

Neill has been included in the Socceroos squad to face Scotland in an international friendly next Wednesday, and coach Holger Osieck revealed the 34-year-old has been training hard as he sought a new club.

"[Lucas] has been working with various teams [to stay fit] and is close to signing with another club in the Middle East. As captain he is very important to have in the team," the trainer told reporters on Wednesday.

Should Neill secure a move to the Stars League, he will find himself up against international team-mates Matthew Spiranovic, Sasa Ognenovski and Mark Bresciano.

The ink on Bresciano's three-year contract to Al Gharafa is barely dry, with the 32-year-old reportedly paying out his existing contract at UAE Pro-League club Al Nasr - said to be around AU$1 million (€850,000) - to seal his transfer on Monday.

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