Robbie Keane's future is becoming more clear cut, and alas, it looks like the hope he returns to Irish or English football is receding.
Keane has been without a club since the MLS finished up last season, and has been linked with a host of clubs. The strongest initial link was with a dream link-up with Shamrock Rovers, but as the days and weeks went past, chatter about such a return home became quieter.
The next strongest rumour was a move to Championship side Preston North End: Simon Grayson did not exactly dispel rumours that Ireland's record scorer was set to join the burgeoning Irish influence at Deepdale: the club currently employ Daryl Horgan, Andy Boyle, Alan Browne, Aiden McGeady and Greg Cunningham. The club's loaning of striker Eoin Doyle to Portsmouth also seemed to pave the way for Keane's arrival.
It looks now, however, that Keane will not be returning closer to home, and instead is set for a final pay day in the Middle East.
Al Ahli, the club from Dubai, posted images of Keane training with the club on their official twitter account.
النجم الايرلندي روبي كين يشارك في تدريبات الفرسان صباح اليوم pic.twitter.com/0S9P4z2yxM
— نادي شباب الأهلي (@Shabab_AlAhliFC) February 6, 2017
That was kept quiet!
Keane, should he sign a contract with the club, will have for company Asamoah Gyan, the former Sunderland striker best known for his penalty miss for Ghana in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final, and Everton Ribeiro, who has somehow been capped six times for the Brazilian national team.
You can make the boyhood club gags....
