Asamoah Gyan has left for China but his UAE legacy should be hailed
Asamoah Gyan’s departure from Al Ain this week felt rather underwhelming, a little inappropriate even.
But that is appropriate because his money-spinning move to Shanghai SIPG was a whirlwind transfer the Arabian Gulf League champions claim took just three days to sort out.
Cutting short his holiday back in Ghana, Gyan arrived in Dubai on Tuesday morning, said his tearful goodbyes in Al Ain Tuesday night and then landed in China early Wednesday. It was complete, done, over.
For now, the most vivid image of Gyan with his former employers is the one released alongside news of his exit on Tuesday: arguably the UAE’s greatest foreign import stood between board member and team supervisor, parading a congratulatory trinket to commemorate his remarkable four-season spell.
There would be no fanfare with the farewell, no rousing reception as Gyan marked the conclusion of his time in the Garden City with a match-winner or a fresh trophy to hoist high – yet that is how he should be remembered.
His record in the UAE’s professional era is unrivalled. Three league titles and one President’s Cup crown; 95 goals in 83 top-flight appearances, three Golden Boot awards; 128 goals in 124 matches in all competitions; 12 alone in last year’s Asian Champions League, the highest in the tournament.
He was so often the man for the grand occasion: a winner in the 2014 President’s Cup final, five goals in the knockout stages of last year’s continental campaign, the eventual winner in March’s 2-1 Arabian Gulf League victory against Al Jazira, a result that effectively guaranteed Al Ain the championship.
But, strangely, despite the swift acceptance of Shanghai’s proposal and the even-quicker parting with Al Ain, the time was right for both club and player.
At 29, Gyan’s finest form appeared to be slipping away, especially when he struggled with a persistent and problematic quadriceps issue last season. Subsequently, the 2014/15 season was his least productive in the UAE: 12 league starts, five more as substitute, although he still netted 13 times.
Yet the lingering injury consigned Gyan to the bench for the Super Cup clash with Al Ahli and the President’s Cup quarter-final against Al Nasr, two of Al Ain’s most important domestic fixtures.
Little wonder, then, that the club decided to cash in. If the reported transfer fee is true, €20 million (Dh81m), was simply too good to refuse. Gyan will never command that amount again or be able to access such a financial package for himself, deemed to be about €250,000 per week. On all sides, this made sense.
How will Gyan be remembered? Mercenary or model signing? Undoubtedly, his switch to Al Ain in 2011 was motivated by money – Gyan was initially paid €3m for the first year – but the argument stands that he was more than worth the outlay.
Justifiably at the time, he attracted criticism outside the UAE, questions as to why a 25 year-old international would swap the English Premier League to spend his peak years in an emergent league in the Middle East. Yet he has justified that decision.
Since joining Al Ain, Gyan has excelled for Ghana, more recently as captain, often crediting the UAE for helping sustain his international thrive. He has not stagnated here, but strengthened.
His impact on the development of the UAE top flight has been significant, as well. Gyan broke the mould, a player yet to reach the pinnacle of his powers who came not only to protect his future, but to progress, too. He became the league’s luminary, regularly referenced by others to follow suit. In his time at Al Ain, the division’s foreign demographic has gotten progressively younger. Gyan aided that.
Granted, he has departed for one final bounty. But Al Ain and UAE football are better for Gyan’s contribution. Once the dust settles on his lucrative lurch to Shanghai, that is how he should be remembered.
Readers Comment
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donjazzi
9 years ago
What is this noise about Asamoah Gyan’s move to China?.We were here when Kumasi Asante Kotoko prevented Rev Osei Kofi from joining English side, Stoke City in 1968.What happened to him. He is now leaving in penury and we blame him for not taking good care of his finances.But we forget thatKotoko then did not pay much money. We criticize the likes of Mohammed Polo, Ibrahim Sunday, for mismanaging their finances during their playing time forgetting that these players played their hearts out for the nation but virtually gained nothing. The recent, being Stephen Appiah who risked his legs to play for Ghana through injury. He was somehow rejected just because of patriotism. Stephen Appiah is now retired and who cares about his financial status?. Asamoah Gyan has made the wisest decision by first moving to Al-Ain to claw all the money and now Shanghai SIPG of China. Good decision Gyan.At 29, he has a maximum of 5 years to play actively. He has his retirement to think about because there is always life after football. Why didn't Cameroon reject Samuel Eto'o when he made a big money move to Russian club,Anzhi Makhachkala in excess of 20 million Euros after taxes. Look at Eto’o today. He is still playing for Turkish side Antalyaspor but he already has a comfortable life. This same people who are criticizing Gyan for the move would have been the same people who would pounce on him with insults if he were living in destitution. People, Asamoah has made the right decision for my money.He has his life,family and other pressing issues to sort out after his football career and he cannot live under the guise of playing for a fine club in Europe like Sunderland, Juventus and keep taking meager amount of money. After all he took 20,000 pounds a week at Sunderland, I stand to be corrected. If his weekly wages has quadrupled why should he reject such a move that is life changing? Its Ghana we live in and people are “two mouthed”. One time they are praising you for a job well done and next minute you are a nobody.
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