Former Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan, has emphasized that his peak footballing years were spent in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), particularly during his tenure with Al Ain.
Gyan's move to Al Ain on an initial loan deal from Sunderland in 2011 raised eyebrows in the football world. However, the deal was swiftly made permanent after just a season, with the 38-year-old signing a five-year contract.
During his time with Al Ain, Gyan delivered stellar performances, scoring an impressive 95 goals in 83 appearances. Speaking on the Breakfast Show on GTV, Gyan expressed that his time in the UAE marked the pinnacle of his career.
"My favourite country is quite interesting; it's quite funny, but I always choose the UAE. I played my best football there. People thought my career was over when I went there," Gyan remarked.
He highlighted the supportive environment in the UAE, where everything was provided for players to focus solely on their football. "I was just there to play football. They did everything for me. They put you in a house, fully furnished, a nine-bedroom house; they will say go and play football; score for us," Gyan shared.
Despite having played in various countries across Europe and Asia, Gyan singled out the UAE as the location where he felt most at home and achieved his peak performance.
Alongside his stints in France, Italy, England, Turkey, China, and India, Gyan's time in the UAE remains a standout chapter in his illustrious career.
