Brazilian striker Wanderley wants to turn a new leaf at Al Nasr
Wants to be the topscorer during first full season with the Blues
Wanderley Santos Junior, the Brazilian striker at Al Nasr, wants to make up for lost time in his first full season with the Blues. “I want to be the highest scorer this season,” he says, trying to shrug off a less-than-memorable bygone season.
Born on October 11, 1988, in Campinas, Brazil ‘Wanderley’ made the switch to Al Nasr midway last year after spending a season and a half with Sharjah Club — only to have his world crashing down.
In 2016, Wanderley had acquired an Indonesian passport and that would have made him the first player of Indonesian nationality in the history of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL). However, exactly a year back, Wanderley was suspended for 60 days, when it was concluded that his passport was a ‘fake document.’
The consequences had to be borne by Al Nasr as the Blues were forced to forfeit a match that they had won against Al Jaish of Jordan and were eventually eliminated from the 2016 AFC Champions League. Now, one year later and less than a month before he turns 29, Wanderley has the opportunity to redeem himself.
Second goal
Last week, Wanderley opened his account for Al Nasr with the second goal in the Blues’ 3-0 win over newly promoted Ajman Club in their Arabian Gulf Cup opener and give Italian Cesare Prandelli his first win in-charge.
“We hope we can continue with the same spirit. We have a full season ahead of us. This is a big club and I am here to honour my potential and the ambitions of the club. I know my responsibility and I know God will help me as I’ve got this opportunity to show my quality. The club has been more than supportive towards me, on and off the pitch and I am grateful for that,” Wanderley told Gulf News.
Assisting Wanderley upfront will be fellow Brazilian and Flamengo striker Marcelo Cirino da Silva, nearly four years his junior.
“There is no doubt in my mind that I want to be the topscorer this season. All strikers must think like this,” he added. “I want the league title.”