Dubai FC signs Fabio Cannavaro for 2 years

Posted Wednesday, June 02, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)—Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro is leaving Juventus to play in the United Arab Emirates for Dubai-based club Al Ahli.

The 36-year-old defender, who helped Italy to the 2006 World Cup title and will captain the team at this month’s tournament in South Africa, signed a two-year deal with the Dubai club.

Terms of the contract were not announced.

“The contract with Fabio Cannavaro is one of the major deals for us because of the player’s experience and talent, and also because he has the character of leader, and he led his team to win the World Cup in Germany in 2006,” Al Ahli board chairman Abdullah al-Naboodah said on the club’s website Wednesday.

Cannavaro had already announced plans to retire from international football after the World Cup and was looking for a new club after Juventus said it would not exercise an extension on his contract.

Cannavaro, who is playing in his fourth World Cup and has a record 132 caps for Italy, has also played for Real Madrid and Inter Milan during his storied career.

Al Ahli won the United Arab Emirates football league title last season but struggled recently in the Asian Champions League, winning only two games and failing to qualify for the knock-out stage.

The club website said Cannavaro “was already thinking about moving to live in Dubai which he loves.”