PARIS: Forward Nene is set to leave French club Paris St Germain for Qatari club Al Gharafa, the Brazilian said yesterday.
The 31-year-old, who was the league’s joint top-scorer last season with 21 goals and helped PSG finish second, has been at odds with coach Carlo Ancelotti for weeks and has not played competitively for more than a month.
“I found an agreement with Al Gharafa,” Nene told French channel TF1.
“It has been difficult because I was still dreaming to play for Brazil and meet up with my family,” added Nene, who was close to signing for Brazilian side Santos last week.
According to media reports Nene will sign an 11m euro ($14.68m) 18-month deal.
“Things like that only happen once in a lifetime. I don’t know if people will understand ... I just thought about my future and secured it for my family,” he said.
Nene has played 79 league games and scored 36 goals for PSG but only featured in nine league matches this season.
Ancelotti dropped him out of the squad after the player struck the roof of the dugout with his hand and argued with coaching staff during the Champions League home win against Porto last month.
Since then, the Brazilian has only taken part in a friendly against a local club during the winter training camp in Qatar.
Meanwhile, Welsh footballing great Ryan Giggs will see how he feels at the end of the season before deciding whether to sign another year long contract with Manchester United, he told the Sunday People.
The 39-year-old winger - winner of 12 Premier League titles with United as well as two Champions League trophies - said he would hold talks with United manager Alex Ferguson at the end of the present campaign, which has so far seen him make 16 appearances in all competitions.
“I will see how I feel and see how I am contributing, and then I will sit down and talk to the manager,” said Giggs, who has won 24 major trophies in his time at United.
“I am cool with that. I am enjoying my football at the moment, but the end of the season is a few months away and you never know what will happen.
“I have to contribute as well as enjoying both training and playing.” Giggs, who made his debut for United in the 1990/91 season, praised Ferguson for his longevity because of the way he differs his training regime.
“In a way I suppose I get an easier ride than some of the younger lads, and that’s because the manager recognises I have different needs at this point,” he said.
Agencies
