Tim Cahill is set to lead Australia into a huge AFC Asian Cup semifinal meeting with the United Arab Emirates – and if a new report is accurate, he may soon find himself relocating to the Persian Gulf state.
The New York Red Bulls Designated Player has been lighting up this month's tournament in his home country, most recently scoring both goals – one an acrobatic bicycle kick – in the Socceroos' 2-0 quarterfinal defeat of China on Thursday.
Those heroics have drawn the interest of Al Wahda FC, a club based in Abu Dhabi which competes in the UAE Pro-League, according to a report by local publication The National.
“Cahill’s performance at the Asian Cup and the World Cup last year has really caught the eye of the Wahda top management and we can say a tentative deal is in place,” an anonymous source at Al Wahda told The National. “There is nothing formal yet though and we will have to wait until the end of the Asian Cup before a formal deal is signed.”
The UAE Pro-League features a number of prominent foreign imports, perhaps most notably Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan, the league's leading scorer last season.
On Tuesday morning, Cahill and the Socceroos will battle the UAE, who knocked off favored Japan via a penalty-kick shootout in the quarterfinals. The winner of the match held in Newcastle, Australia will advance to the AFC Asian Cup championship match vs. South Korea in Sydney on Friday.
