DUBAI // <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL1Blb3BsZS9TcG9ydCBzdGFycy9Gb290YmFsbGVycy9EaWVnbyBNYXJhZG9uYQ==" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL1Blb3BsZS9TcG9ydCBzdGFycy9Gb290YmFsbGVycy9EaWVnbyBNYXJhZG9uYQ==">Diego Maradona</a> will return to the UAE next month to officially begin his task of transforming <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9BbCBXYXNs" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9BbCBXYXNs">Al Wasl</a> into a world famous footballing name and the ambitious Dubai club hope to know before Saturday's home match against Dubai whether Diego Forlan, the <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1NwYW5pc2ggZm9vdGJhbGwgdGVhbXMvQXRsZXRpY28gTWFkcmlk" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1NwYW5pc2ggZm9vdGJhbGwgdGVhbXMvQXRsZXRpY28gTWFkcmlk">Atletico Madrid</a> striker, will be joining them on a season-long loan for the next <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL1N1YmplY3RzL1VBRSBQcm8gTGVhZ3VlIDIwMTEtMTI=" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL1N1YmplY3RzL1VBRSBQcm8gTGVhZ3VlIDIwMTEtMTI=">Pro League</a> campaign. Al Wasl's club media manager Ahmed Khalifa confirmed that the new coach Maradona is expected back in Dubai before the end of June to discuss potential new signings, the current squad, pre-season arrangements and who his backroom coaching staff will be. "We do not have an exact date, but Diego will be here in June when he will talk about the football side of things with the club," Khalifa said. If the capture of Maradona, arguably the most famous football name of them all, was astonishing, Al Wasl would earn even more praise if they could prise Forlan away from Spanish football. The 31-year-old Uruguayan striker, who won the league and FA Cup with Manchester United, was named the best player at last summer's World Cup. "We have offered Forlan a one-year loan deal and he has accepted. He wants to join Al Wasl," Khalifa added. "We are now waiting for Atletico to come back to us. We sent them a proposal on Monday and I would expect to get an answer over the next few days. "Will more big names be signed? Maybe, we shall see. Forlan was the best player at the last World Cup, so this would be a fantastic signing for us." ncameron@thenational.ae
