Desailly pens Qatari deal

FORMER Chelsea and France defender Marcel Desailly has signed a one-year deal with Qatari club Al-Ittihad.

The 35-year-old, who won 116 caps for Les Bleus in a glittering international career, has been without a club after leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of last season.

But, having flown into Doha for talks earlier in the day, Desailly has now decided to further his career in the Middle East.

“I am happy to have made this decision,” Desailly said. “In recent months, I was approached by a few clubs in Doha, but I made my decision to play here recently. I think I can settle here quite easily.”

Desailly insisted on Thursday that he had been approached by Barcelona over the possibility of signing a short-term deal with the Primera Liga leaders, although the Catalan club later denied the suggestion they were eager to bring the central defender to the Nou Camp.