Peru international Jefferson Farfan set to remain at Al Jazira after ‘excellent training camp’

Farfan has been linked this year to Gremio, River Plate and a return to the Bundesliga. However, Jazira executive director Ayed Mabkhout says he has performed particularly well during Jazira’s training camp, reports John McAuley.

Jefferson Farfan, right, of Al Jazira made only 11 appearnaces with the club last season because of injury but appears to be back with a vegeance for the 2016/17 season. Al Ittihad
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ABU DHABI // Jefferson Farfan looks likely to remain at Al Jazira, with the club's executive director confirming the player has been hugely impressive during preseason.

The Peruvian, 31, joined Jazira last summer from Germany’s Schalke in a €6 million (Dh24.4m) deal, but endured a frustrating debut campaign in which a serious ankle injury sustained in the November defeat to Al Ahli ended his season. He made only 11 appearances.

An experienced international winger, Farfan has been linked this year to Gremio in Brazil, River Plate in Argentina and a return to the Bundesliga. However, he has caught the eye in training since recovering from ankle surgery and has performed particularly well during Jazira’s training camp in Holland and Germany.

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It represents a remarkable turnaround after Farfan was informed earlier this summer that he could leave the club, with Jazira also willing to listen to offers for at least Thiago Neves and Angel Lafita. The President’s Cup holders currently have Mirko Vucinic, Park Jong-woo and new signing Mbark Boussoufa on their books, too.

Jazira, though, say they are waiting on manager Henk ten Cate to finalise his foreign contingent for the 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League season.

“As I’ve heard from the coach, the team managers and the players, Farfan has been excellent in the training camp - one of the best players,” said Ayed Mabkhout, the Jazira executive director. “And Farfan is a big name, we do not need to test him out.

“Last year, he was unlucky because he was not ready at the beginning of the season, since the whole team at that time was not in a good way. And then he got a bad injury. Now he’s doing well and, myself, I believe a lot in this player. He’s a really top player, but we should wait for the coach’s decision.”

Jazira have received offers from Brazil for playmaker Neves, although the market in his homeland for foreign-based players is already closed. Boussoufa, meanwhile, is expected to take Neves’ place in the team after joining late last month from Lokomotiv Moscow on a two-year deal.

A three-time Belgian player of the year during spells with Gent and Anderlecht, the Moroccan attacking midfielder experienced a difficult time in Russia before being loaned back to Belgium, with Gent, in February.

Jazira anticipate that Boussoufa will play an integral role in their quest for the Arabian Gulf League title next season, a priority given the winners qualify for the 2017 Fifa Club World Cup in the UAE.

“Boussoufa was the best player in Belgium in three different seasons,” Mabkhout said. “He’s a really talented player, he’s a leader, and we think at Al Jazira he’s the player who can be the team’s playmaker and one who can also score.

“He has good experience in Europe, and he played very well in our recent friendlies against Hamburg and Hertha Berlin, big clubs. I believe it’ll be an advantage for Al Jazira to have this player.”

Asked to clarify the situation regarding Jazira’s foreign roster, Mabkhout said: “Until now, we have five foreign players at the training camp. We’re waiting for the head coach’s opinion, because for sure at least one player will leave the team. So at the end of the day, it’s his decision.”

​jmcauley@thenational.ae

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