Second time’s the charm: Aly Ghazal eager to help Whitecaps’ playoff push
VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps wanted to bring Aly Ghazal to Major League Soccer over the winter before he eventually settled on a move to China. When the midfielder’s stay in Asia lasted just six months, both the club and player were happy to circle back and make a deal.
The Whitecaps announced the signing of the 25-year-old Egyptian last Thursday, making Vancouver his third stop since January after transferring from C.D. Nacional in Portugal to China’s Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng FC.
“I knew (the Whitecaps) tried to get me before I went to China, but money talks, especially for the Portuguese clubs,” Ghazal said after training with his new teammates earlier this week. “It was difficult to come here before.”
It was also difficult for him find playing time in the Chinese Super League after a rule change reduced the number of foreigners allowed to suit up in games, relegating Ghazal to second-team and Cup competitions.