Quaresma joins UAE club

Quaresma is Ahli's new number 37 Dubai - Arabstoday Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma has joined United Arab Emirates club Al Ahli. The former Sporting Lisbon star, released by Turkish club Besiktas last month, has seen his career hit a downward spiral over the last few years. The 29-year-old is hoping to settle in Dubai, even though he has admitted to knowing very little about his new club. "I am very happy to be here at Al Ahli, one of the best clubs in the UAE," Quaresma said at his official press conference. "I don’t really know anything about the club or the league. But the most important thing for me is to start working again and do what I love to do; playing football." Quaresma revealed that he spoke to Ahli coach Quique Sanchez Flores before putting pen-to-paper on an 18-month contract. "I spoke to Quique and he gave me an idea of what I could expect here in Dubai and of playing for Al Ahli. The most important thing for me now is that I am happy to be here and so are my family." Ahli CEO Ahmad Khalifa Hammad thinks Quaresma’s arrival will give the team a big boost as they look to regain the Pro League title from current holders and leaders Al Ain. He has also laughed off comments about the player's attitude. "He has the talent to help the team win the league this year," he said. "We are very confident he can make a big contribution and play a big part in the team’s success. We looked at the career he has had; playing for Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea. He has played in three of the biggest leagues in the world and we are confident there will be no problems here," he added. Quaresma is from the famed Sporting Lisbon academy and has played at some of the biggest clubs in the world. After spending a season at Barcelona, he returned to Portugal for a successful four years at Porto. He joined Inter Milan in 2008, but struggled to settle and was loaned out to Chelsea. In 2010, he joined Besiktas, but a contractual dispute meant he was released six months before the end of his contact.