LaLiga captain ‘goes AWOL’ and spotted boarding flight from Madrid Airport as he chases lucrative transfer
LAS PALMAS captain Jonathan Viera has caused a stir in Spain after going AWOL from his squad.
Viera, 34, has been absent from Las Palmas‘ last three matchday squads after being substituted early in their 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo last month.
The exact reason for his absence is unclear.
Last week he came out and hinted there “wasn’t long left” for him in football after finding out that his wife had a tumour.
Las Palmas club president Miguel Angel Ramirez claimed that club legend Viera had earned the right to retire whenever he pleased.
According to AS, his partner claimed on social media that a tumour had been detected on her uterus.
The tumour was subsequently removed “right on time”.
But it appears the saga of Jonathan Viera’s Las Palmas future has taken another twist.
Marca report that the midfielder has boarded a flight to Dubai in the search of sealing a transfer to the United Arab Emirates.
The Spanish paper report that Viera had already rejected a “multimillion-dollar” offer from Dubai earlier this summer.
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He had apparently been convinced to stay at Las Palmas by club president Angel Ramirez.
But Viera’s relationship with manager Garcia Pimienta has been strained in his absence from the squad and he now wants the transfer he did not get this summer.
Viera has flown to The UAE again this week and it appears that he will not play again for Las Palmas.
The 34-year-old began his career at the club in 2010 after coming through their academy.
He left to join Valencia in 2012 before returning to the Gran Canaria side again in 2015.
He left to join Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan in 2018 before returning to Las Palmas for a third stint in 2021 following the corona crisis.
He is widely regarded as the greatest Las Palmas player in history.