Ando hopes Asian Cup will help him move to Europe

DPA – Iranian international Anderanik Teymourian said Tuesday that he was hoping to use the Asian Cup campaign to move back to Europe.

The defensive midfielder signed a two-year contract with Bolton in 2006 before joining Fulham on another two-year contract. He failed to make a breakthrough at Fulham though and joined Barnsley on loan.

After being released by Fulham in July last year, he turned down an offer to tour Australia with Blackburn Rovers and started negotiating with Sheffield United. He was also linked with a possible move to Blackburn, but failed to get the necessary work permit and returned to Iran.

‘Our national team is a very good side and there are a lot of players who would be able to play in Europe if they could get the chance,’ he told reporters.

‘So this competition is very important because players can get an opportunity to show themselves.

‘I would love to go back to Europe. I learnt a lot playing in the Premier League and I miss all the people there.’

The 27-year-old said that he was confident Iran would win their final game against the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday to end the group phase with nine points. ‘We have already played two games and we are thinking positive. We want to win our third game.

‘I would prefer to play against Australia in the quarter-finals.’