When the mop-top hits the ball like a big splendid star, that's Amoory
Slick playmaker Omar Abdulrahman can stake his claim for a big-money move to Europe when the UAE face Japan on Friday in an Asian Cup quarter-final, which threatens to be a potential banana skin for the holders.
The mop-top Emirati is the heartbeat of Mahdi Ali's highly impressive UAE, who come up against a fast and powerful Japan side boasting the biggest names in Asian football.
Reports have linked Abdulrahman, known as "Amoory", to English champions Manchester City - whose owners are from Abu Dhabi, where he currently plays for Al Ain.
Some of the players could play with each other with their eyes closed ... It's a beautiful thing to see
Another bravura performance against the four-time Asian champions would only raise expectations that the 23-year-old was bound for the heights of European club football.
UAE's quick-passing game, with Abdulrahman feeding prolific strikers Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil, has won widespread praise, with Iran's coach Carlos Queiroz one of their admirers.
"They've played together for many years, since under 17 - some of the players could play with each other with their eyes closed," said the former Portugal and Real Madrid boss, who also had a spell in charge of the UAE. "They know exactly where the others are, what they do, what they can expect. It's a beautiful thing to see."
