Asamoah Gyan must return to Europe - Van Nistelrooy

The ex-Manchester United goal poacher is in awe of Gyan's talent but has questioned why he is wasting his prowess in a less fancied football region.

Netherlands legend Ruud van Nistelrooy has questioned Asamoah Gyan's decision to play in the UAE instead of Europe, despite his talent.

He said the striker is throwing away his football skills in the Gulf Region.

“Why is Gyan playing in the UAE? I don’t know what he is doing there. He should be playing with a top side in Europe. He had a tremendous game [against Germany],” Van Nistelrooy said on ESPN.

The 28-year-old striker became the record signing player for Sunderland in 2010 costing them £13 million, but decided to join Al Ain a year later with a speculated loan fee of £6 million but later signed a permanent deal with the Bosses after a successful season.

Gyan has been a major threat to opposing defenders in UAE, scoring 45 goals in all competitions [42 games] in the just ended season. He has won the Pro League goal scorers accolade on three consecutive seasons and is currently leading the top scorer chart in this season’s Asian Champions League, scoring eight goals for the Bosses.

Gyan is the first African player to score in three consecutive World Cup finals and holds the record of most goals by an African at the World Cup with Cameroonian legend Roger Milla. He is the youngest player to score for Ghana and currently holds the all-time goal scorers record for the west Africans after netting 40 times in 80 games.