Yokohama v Al Ain: Kaku aims to repay fans' love with Asian Champions League title

Alejandro Sebastian Romero Gamarra, more commonly known as Kaku, has been one of Al Ain’s standout players during their incredible run to the Asian Champions League final.

The Paraguayan attacking midfielder, signed last summer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun, scored in the memorable semi-final victory against Al Hilal last month, and has proven the perfect foil for teammate Soufiane Rahimi, the 2023/24 tournament’s top scorer.

Kaku, wo has also played for New York Red Bulls, is expected to be integral again in the final against Yokohama F Marinos, where Al Ain will attempt to emulate their class of 2003 in winning Asia’s premier club competition. They remain the only UAE side to do so.

Kaku spoke ahead of the first leg of the final which takes place at the Yokohama International Stadium in Japan on Saturday.

“I will be honest with you, the first impression and the truth since I have arrived here, I fell in love with Al Ain Football Club and the peaceful and beautiful green city, which the club is considered an integral part of.

“I do have great fun while being here. I also feel, to a great extent, as if my origins are from this place, I feel that I have Ainawi [Al Ain supporters] origins, in addition to that great amount of sincere love, so I find myself in love with wearing the kandoura and I do have great fun while doing this.”

“One day I had the chance to attend one match at Qatar’s Fifa World Cup. Before that match, I went to Dubai Mall and saw the Al Ain T-shirt and I liked the logo and the design, so I did not hesitate to buy it and wear it to attend the Argentina match in Doha.

“This was exactly a year before I have received the club’s offer; at that moment I had a great feeling, and for that reason, I decided to