Maradona´s Al Wasl sign Mercier

Diego Maradona’s UAE club Al Wasl have signed three-time Argentina international Juan Ignacio Mercier from Saudi Arabian outfit Al Nasr.

The 31-year-old midfielder, who was given his international debut by Maradona, had been linked with Al Wasl for the past few weeks.

And while Al Wasl have not officially confirmed his acquisition, a club spokesperson told Sport360 he had been signed.

“He has signed and is registered,” the spokesman said. “The decision on whether he will play (against Al Wahda in the President’s Cup on Tuesday) will be made by Maradona and his technical staff, if they feel he is ready and they need him.”

Mercier joins Mohammed Reza Khalatbari as Maradona’s two signings during January, with foreign duo Edson Puch and Richard Porta likely to be forced out the exit door.

Al Wasl had been linked with big names such as Schalke’s Raul and Chelsea’s Didier Drogba, but Maradona revealed the club could not afford such players.