GOING ALL OUT
ALI Qadri wants to model himself on Andres Iniesta as he likes everything about the Barcelona captain, except maybe his haircut.
A stylish attacking midfielder, Ali had won award for the best Under-21 player after helping Al Ahli to a sixth-place finish in the 2013-14 season on their return to the top flight. The talks of him joining Al Rayyan were rife since then, but the move did not materialise.
Ali’s career did not evolve on expected lines and he was even overlooked by Qatar U-23 coach Felix Sanchez for last year’s Asian Championship in Doha.
As Abdulrahman Al Harazi, the best U-21 player in Qatar in 2015, makes rapid progress under Michael Laudrup after joining Rayyan from Sailiya this season, Ali might be having a sense of loss even though he would not admit it.
“Abdulrahman is a friend of mine and I feel happy for him. In fact, I look forward to playing alongside him one day. It’s true that Rayyan came calling more than once, but I had to respect my contract with Ahli, which is my home.
“It wasn’t a question of taking the right decision. The club and I took one which, we felt, was right for both of us. I’ve one more year remaining in my contract and let’s see what future holds for me. Rayyan are a big team and have several good players, and it’s my dream to play for them one day. If I get a chance in future, surely I’ll go,” Ali told Doha Stadium Plus, flashing a smile throughout the conversation even as he is once again linked with a summer move to the Lions.
“Currently I’m putting in all my efforts to help Ahli finish the Qatar Stars League on a strong note and fight it out in cup tournaments. I can think about Rayyan later. Of course, their players are all friendly with me and ask me to join them this summer. If I leave Ahli, then I want to move to Rayyan. But I know everything isn’t in my hands,” said the 23-year-old.
Asked whether the decision to stay with Ahli spoiled his chances of making it to the Qatar U-23 team last year, Ali said he respected the coach’s decision.
“It was coach Sanchez’s decision not to include me and, as a professional, I’ve to accept that. All I could do was to keep working. And that’s what I did. I think I’ve done a fair job this season. Now I’m looking forward to joining the senior team. It’s a target I want to achieve,” added the Ahli No.10.
