Football: Al Jazira boost midfield by signing Moubarak

The Pride of Abu Dhabi have just woken up from their summer slumber and have done that in style. The only club from the Capital to sit tight in the transfer market, Al Jazira have bagged Moroccan player Moubarak 'Mbark' Boussoufa from Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow on Thursday.
The attacking midfielder has won multiple Belgian Golden Shoe, Belgian Footballer of the Year, Belgian Young Footballer of the Year and Belgian Ebony Shoe awards, the last one given to best African or African origin player in the Belgian Pro League. He has evolved from Dutch side Ajax and English side Chelsea's youth academies.
The 31-year-old was playing on loan with Belgian club KAA Gent and had scored twice in 11 appearances for them. The Moroccan has represented his national side on 40 occasions and netted six times.
With the agreement, Boussoufa has already joined Al Jazira's training camp in the Netherlands.
Boussoufa can be used as a left winger or in the midfield, thus giving coach Henk ten Cate many options.
Now, it would be interesting days ahead at the elite club.
Montenegro star Mirko Vucinic, Korean Park Jong-woo, Peru's Jefferson Farfan, Spaniard Angel Lafita and Thiago Neves from Brazil are all still in the house. Striker Vucinic has just returned from his long-term injury and is expected to retain his place.
Al Jazira were also in the hunt for Cheick Tiote, but English side Newcastle have reportedly rejected the bid for the Ivory Coast midfielder.