Karimi denies Persepolis rumors

PTV - Ali Karimi has not entered into talks with Persepolis to join the popular Iranian club next season, the football player's agent has said.

"Karimi's contract with Qatar SC will not end until next year," said Abolfazl Jalali, adding "He has to pay 20 billion rials ($2 million) if he wants to leave the club now."

Jalali rejected recent reports that the former Bayern Munich star was in talks with Persepolis to play for the club in AFC Champions League and next season's Premier League.

Meanwhile, there are also reports that Karimi may join Saudi Arabia's al-Ahli. However, the Saudi club said on Saturday that it was not interested in signing a contract with the 2004 Asian Player of the Year.

"For the time being, the administration believes he is not our first choice as a top foreign player, and we made that clear to his agent who was recently in direct contact with us," the club's spokesman told al-Yaum.

The 29-year-old Karimi, who was capped 109 times for Iran, was suspended from the national team in May after making public comments that were critical of the Iranian Football Federation (IFF).

The IFF later announced the suspension had been lifted following a personal request by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. However, Karimi did not play in the first round of World Cup qualifiers, reportedly due to injury.