Quaresma signs Al-Ahli deal

DUBAI

Former Beşiktaş star Ricardo Quaresma has signed a one-and-a-half year contract with Dubai club Al-Ahli.

The Portuguese ace was left out of contract after Beşiktaş released him last month, six months before his contract was due to run out, paying out the remainder of his contract, €1.48 million.

The 29-year-old winger was expected to sign a mid-season deal with his former team, Porto, but instead he made a surprise move to Dubai.

The superstar fell out of favor after refusing cash-strapped Beşiktaş’s offer of a cut in his salary and was not used by the club this season.

After refusing an offer of 3.75 million euros-a-year, Quaresma was left indefinitely out of the squad by coach Samet Aybaba.

Beşiktaş has been trying to offload its wage bill and has parted ways with high-profile players such as Simao Sabrosa, Egemen Korkmaz and Fabian Ernst since last summer. The had asked Quaresma to either accept a pay cut or find another club.

Quaresma, who had previously played with Inter, Barcelona and Chelsea, moved to Beşiktaş in 2010 as a marquee signing during a summer when former Real Madrid ace Guti also arrived at İnönü Stadium. Quaresma was one of the most expensive signings in Turkish football history, with 7.3 million euros paid to Inter.

A fan favorite at the İnönü Stadium, Quaresma scored 14 goals for Beşiktaş in 54 matches.