DUBAI // Al Nasr have confirmed Leonardo Lima will be looking for a new club following their deal with Sampdoria's Brazilian midfielder Renan.
Lima’s future in Ivan Jovanovic’s squad had been a subject of speculation through the summer, but when the Brazilian, 32, left with the team on Saturday for their pre-season camp in Munich, it seemed he would continue for another season.
Nasr decided to move for Renan once they became aware of his availability and have agreed terms with Sampdoria and the player in a deal estimated to be worth €1.2 million (Dh5.8 million).
“It is all done and we are just waiting for the medicals,” said a Nasr official.
“We have been looking for a player like Renan. He can play in central midfield and on the left side and that is what the coach Jovanovic wanted.
“He is good with his passing and has a really strong shot as well, and is a constant threat, shooting from long range. So we are really pleased to have him on board.”
Renan, 28, moved to Sampdoria in January 2012, on loan, after impressing in the Romanian league with Cluj.
He made 14 appearances with the Serie B club and helped them gain promotion.
In July 2012, Sampdoria paid €3.2m to Cluj for the player’s contract, but Renan’s opportunities have been limited in Serie A since.
With eight midfielders in their squad and only one year remaining on Renan’s contract, Sampdoria decided to put him on the transfer market, where negotiations with Nasr were swift.
Renan will have his medicals in Italy and his arrival completes Nasr’s foreign quartet for next season.
The GCC Gulf Clubs Championship winners have retained the services of Australian Brett Holman and Senegalese striker Ibrahima Toure, as well as having signed Macedonian winger Ivan Trickovski in the summer to replace the injured Brazilian Eder.
Lima, who arrived at Nasr in 2010, could move to Qatar or return home to Brazil to pursue his football career.
Elsewhere, Baniyas are also ready to make a new addition to their squad with Spanish defender Angel Dealbert expected to arrive in the country on Wednesday for his medical before he signs a deal.
Dealbert, 31, is a centre back who made 58 appearances for Spanish club Valencia from 2009 to 2012 before moving to Russian Premier League club Kuban Krasnodar on a free transfer.
The Spaniard, valued at €2m in the transfer market, is a free agent again after being released by Kuban Krasnodar on Sunday.
If Dealbert clears his medicals, he will become Baniyas’s second signing of the summer after South Korean Kim Jung-woo, who appeared for Sharjah last season.
The Abu Dhabi side have retained only one foreign player, Chilean Carlos Munoz, which means they are looking for one more player to complete their foreign quartet for next season.
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