Paulo Otavio
QNB Stars League (QSL) side Al Sadd yesterday announced the signing of Brazilian Paulo Otavio for three years starting from the 2023-2024 season which will begin in August.
The Wolves roped in the 28-year-old left back from Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg after he decided not to extend his stay at the club as his four-year contract expires this summer.
Before joining VfL Wolfsburg in 2019, Otavio also featured for German club FC Ingolstadt from 2017-2019 after his one-year stint with Austrian side Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub (LASK).
The new signing followed Al Sadd’s trophy-less season under coach Juan Manuel Lillo, who replaced Javi Garcia last year.
The Wolves started the season without their key players, who joined the side after featuring for their national sides at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Al Sadd finished third in the QSL after winning two consecutive seasons and also lost finals of Qatar Cup and the prestigious Amir Cup.
Al Sadd SC Vice President Engineer Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah had said the club management will make all out effort to help the 18-time Amir Cup champions return to glory days.
“We assure Al Sadd fans that the team will improve in the upcoming season. We will provide the necessary support and resources to ensure they perform at their best and achieve championship success in the new season,” he had said after team’s loss to Al Arabi in the Amir Cup final on Friday.
Hernan Crespo’s Al Duhail were the most successful side in recently-concluded domestic season sealing a treble with QSL, Qatar Cup and Ooredoo Cup triumphs as Al Arabi clinched the Amir Cup title.
The new QSL season will begin on August 17, the QSL announced on Tuesday.
Apart from domestic titles, Al Sadd will also feature in the AFC Champions League.