Dubai, September 19: The UAE's Al Nasr club have signed Spanish international Alvaro Negredo from Turkey's Besiktas on a two-year deal.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester City striker will don the No. 11 jersey for the Dubai-based club and looks to have joined in time for their third match in the UAE Pro League where they take on defending champions Al Ain on Friday (September 21).
Al Nassr had a poor start to their 2018/19 campaign, suffering back-to-back defeats to Ajman and Sharjah. Now Ivan Jovanovic' men will be looking for a change of fortunes , especially after having roped in the Vallecas born striker.
The club announced Negredo's signing on its official Twitter handle.
"Al Nasr formally contracts with Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo," the club tweeted. "He comes from the Turkish club Besiktas in a contract that lasts for two seasons.
"He will wear the No11 shirt."
تعاقد | ✍
— AL NASR FC (@ALNasrSC) September 18, 2018
شركة #النصر_لكرة_القدم تتعاقد رسمياً مع المهاجم الإسباني ألفارو نيغريدو @AlvaroNegredo9 قادماً من نادي بيشكتاش التركي في عقدٍ يستمر لمدة موسمين 💙🔥
وسيرتدي نيغريدو القميص رقم 11 pic.twitter.com/NB2Hktj4mS
The 33-year-old is likely to replace replace Iury de Castilho in the four-player foreign quota. The Brazilian has been a big letdown after being signed from Ukraine's Zorya Luhansk in June.
In the last season, Al Nasr finished fourth in the standings with 37 points, which assured them a spot in the 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League play-off round.
Former France centre midfielder Yohan Cabaye had been the club's major signing so far in this season. The transfer window in the UAE closes on October 2.
Negredo thanked Besiktas in an emotional tweet which has gone viral on the social media.
Gracias 🙏🏼⚫️⚪️🦅
— Álvaro Negredo 9️⃣ (@AlvaroNegredo9) September 18, 2018
Thanks #an9 pic.twitter.com/g4xpjDdKsO
He was a big hit in the Turkish League where he scored 18 goals from 46 appearances.