Zola Wants Qatar Move For Balotelli & Cassano

As both players continue to be linked to Sampdoria, Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano have been told to look east for their next club.

Al Arabi coach Gianfranco Zola has urged controversial strikers Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano to move to the Middle East to jump-start their careers.

With Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero unwilling to play €10million to purchase Balotelli from Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers seemingly not interested in playing the 24-year-old after a poor first season at Anfield, the Italy international needs to find a new home.

Qatar Club Al Arabi Appoints Gianfranco Zola As New Coach

Former Italy forward Gianfranco Zola said he has taken a gamble in turning down management offers from England and at home to take charge of Qatari side Al Arabi.

The former Chelsea, Napoli and Parma playmaker signed a two-year deal with the seven-time Qatari champions on Tuesday, bringing with him another ex Italian forward Pierluigi Casiraghi to assist.

"I know I'm taking a big gamble by leaving behind offers from Italy and England and taking up a coaching position in Qatar," Zola, who was most recently working as a television pundit in Qatar, was quoted as saying by Doha Stadium Plus on Wednesday.