Former Barcelona and Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma signs for Dubai-based Al Ahli
Former Barcelona winger Ricardo Quaresma has signed for Al Ahli on a free transfer following his release by Besiktas.
Last Updated: 09/01/13 9:02pm
The 29-year-old Portugal international, who had recently been linked with a move to Liverpool, has agreed an 18-month deal with the five-time UAE League champions and will be formally presented this evening.
"In a big deal in the Arab world, Al Ahli football club has agreed a deal with Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma for a season and a half," read a statement on the club's official website.
Quaresma's career has failed to live up to its early promise at Sporting Lisbon, where his performances persuaded Barcelona to part with 6million euros for his services.
A disappointing season at Camp Nou followed before he was transferred to Porto.
His time in Porto brought about an upturn in form, delivering three league titles and giving way to an ill-fated move to Inter Milan, where he soon fell out of favour and was farmed out on loan to Chelsea before joining Besiktas in 2010.
He was released by Besiktas on December 20 after the club agreed to pay up the remaining six months of his contract.