According to several sources, including Abu Dhabi sports TV show “The Sporting Street”, the Persepolis and Team Melli midfielder Ahmad Nourollahi has signed a 2 years contract with Dubai’s Shabab Al Ahli club.

For several days now, Persepolis fans have been hearing from the media about the possible departure of their influential midfielder “Ahmad Nourollahi”, it seems that this news is very close to reality.

In this regard, Al-Sharia Al-Riyadi TV  “The Sporting Street”, program announced the signing of Nourollahi’s contract with the UAE’s Shabab Al-Ahli club and considered this deal as a closed deal. It remains to be seen to what extent this news is true as there is no official announcement from the Persepolis club.

Nourollahi, the Team Melli midfielder of Persepolis and the third captain of the team, has had a great impact on his team’s championship run in the last few seasons. His contract with Persepolis expired at the end of the season and he remains a free agent. However, sources claimed that Nourollahi has signed an extension of the contract although this was not been confirmed by the player himself.

Perspolis, like almost all other Iranian clubs, are notorious paymasters. They reduce the wages of players and staff unilaterally, frequently stop payments for months, and at times flatly refuse to honor the terms of the contracts. The Iranian Football Federation, due to the influence that the club holds, has been helpless and at times unwilling to support the players by forcing Perspolis to pay its due to the staff.

In this sense, many former staff and players seek justice with FIFA or CAS, both of whom have received numerous claims against the club. The latest of a series of such cases is the payment to the Argentine Coach Calderon. Persepolis has about two weeks left before it is sanctioned by FIFA if it did not honor the payment. The signs are that Persepoils club, which is on the brink of financial bankruptcy, will not be able to pay Calderon and awaits the government handout as it has always done.

Perspolis has to pay US$ 580,000 to the Calderon,  in addition to  25,000 Swiss francs that must be paid to the Supreme Court of Sport CAS.

Most Iranian players seek their fortunes outside the country if the opportunity arises.  Many Team Melli players had bitter experiences with their clubs including deferred payment, reduced salary, contract violations, and breach of trust. With Nourallahi’s departure, Team Melli will only have 4 domestic league players out of 24.