Football Tribe SEA Editor
Jeju United striker Magno Cruz has signed with Qatar Stars League side Umm Salal, turning down a move to join Thai League side Muangthong United at the final hour in the process.
With his contract up this season and with his side’s relegation to K-League 2, it seemed inevitable that Magno would look for a new club ahead of the 2020 season.
Umm Salal currently sits bottom of the Qatar Stars League, having collected just five points from their opening 11 games, scoring just 7 goals in the process. Signing on what appears to be an initial six-month contract to run until the end of the current campaign, the side will be hoping Magno Cruz will provide some much-needed firepower upfront.
Jeju United forward Magno Cruz has completed a move to Umm Salal, not Muangthong United. (SPOTV News) #kleague pic.twitter.com/Ak3fGPbsZn
— Korea Football News (@KORFootballNews) December 31, 2019
This move came as a surprise to many fans, who assumed that Magno could be signing for Muangthong United after widespread media reports seemingly confirmed the move.
The Kirin even went as far as to schedule a press conference to announce a ‘new foreign signing,’ which many presumed to be Magno Cruz, but was then later changed to a local player as the club announced their previously confirmed signing of Saharat Kanyaroj.
It appears that, having already discussed a potential deal with Muangthong, the striker was tempted by what was a supposedly better offer from Umm Salal, and instead decided on a move to Qatar.
The striker spent three years with Jeju and made 90 K-League appearances for the club, scoring 24 goals and registering 8 assists.