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Saudi side unveil the wrong Bastos in transfer reveal mix-up
Al-Ain have announced the signing of retired Brazil international Michel Bastos, rather than his namesake
Saudi side Al-Ain appear to have confused Angola defender Bastos for former Brazil wideman Michel Bastos in their attempt to unveil the former as a new signing on Thursday.
The African centre-back was recruited by the newly promoted side from Lazio for a fee understood to be in the region of €800,000 earlier this week.
However, in their haste to unveil their newest recruit—full name Bartolomeu Jacinto Quissanga—Al-Ain published a Twitter graphic welcoming ‘Michel Bastos’ to the Saudi club.
The only explanation we can think of is that the Al Bahah-based club have got one Bastos mixed up with another, and were thinking of 10-cap Brazil international Michel Bastos when they announced their latest recruit.
The latter, who hung up his boots last year, enjoyed a stellar career in Europe, including over 250 Ligue 1 appearances across stints with LOSC Lille and Olympique Lyonnais.
He also featured for the likes of Schalke 04 and AS Roma, before winding down his career in his homeland with the likes of Sao Paulo, Palmeiras and Sport Recife.
The elder Bastos also featured for another Al Ain—the Emirati side who were Club World Cup runners-up in 2018—perhaps fuelling the confusion.
Angola defender Bastos, who has actually made the move to the Middle East, departs Italy after four years with Lazio, having signed from Rostov in 2016. His contract in the Italian capital was set to end next summer.
The 28-year-old centre-back, who has already made two Serie A appearances—both from the bench—this term, has picked up over a half century of Angola caps.
He represented Os Palancas Negras at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and 2019.
He began his career with Angolan heavyweights Petro Atletico, before moving to Russia in 2013.
Earlier this month, Al-Ain—from the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia—announced the signing of Algeria international Saphir Taider from Montreal Impact as they approach their first season in the Saudi Pro League.
Taider departed after a fine spell with Impact, ending his stay in Canada as the fourth most prolific creator of goals in Impact’s Major League Soccer history.
