An unexpected turn in the life and football career of Quincy Promes! The former Spartak star is returning to the pitch, under investigation and without having to leave the UAE. While the Dutchman awaits a decision on extradition, he will play in the Emirates Championship.
Latest details on the “Promes case”:
Promes’ extradition trial has begun. And it will definitely go down in history.
Promes played his last match for Spartak in December last year against Krylya Sovetov in the 18th round of the RPL. Quincy came out with the captain’s armband and helped the team to a big 3-0 victory with his goal. Therefore, the break in the striker’s career will be only nine months, a period that is not critical for returning to football.
Promes then went with Spartak to the training camp in the United Arab Emirates and got stuck in Dubai. He was arrested and went to jail. In May he was released on bail but was banned from leaving the country. Meanwhile, the Emirates are considering the Netherlands’ request to extradite Quincy, who has been implicated in several criminal cases. The Dutchman’s contract with Spartak expired in the summer, so Promes can sign a deal with the new club as a free agent.
But Spartak is apparently still waiting for Quincy’s return. At the very least, such a development cannot be ruled out. At the end of August, the general director of the Moscow club, Oleg Malyshev, answering the question whether he still maintains contact with Promes, said:
“There have been no significant changes in Promes. He exercises and keeps fit. But he will not be allowed to leave the Emirates.”
Prior to this, in July, Malyshev admitted:
“We are in contact with Quincy and his lawyers. We are in constant contact. But there is no point in sharing any details. Changes happen constantly. We have an agreement with his lawyers that we do not share details so that there is no negative impact on his situation.”
In the meantime, Quincy used the only possible option to return to football: he reached an agreement with a club in the local league. All that was left was to obtain a work permit. The transfer of the former Spartak player to the Dutch national team was announced by Dubai United. The name of Promes’ new team sounds nice, but it only plays in the second division of the Emirates Championship. Why did the Dutchman join this particular club? Obviously, the question is that there is a connection with Russia here as well.
According to Sport Express, Promes’ contract with Dubai United is for one season, but includes the option to return to Spartak for free in the winter if he is allowed to leave the UAE.
Quincy Promes
Photo: From Promes’ personal archive.
Dubai United is a very young club, founded in 2022. The team quickly rose from the third division to the second and in the last season 2023/2024 ranked sixth. United was led by French coach Kamal Tassali, who had previously worked as head of the youth department and assistant at Club Pau.
The president of the Dubai Club is… former Rubin goalkeeper Tom, Mordovia and Moldova national team goalkeeper Ilya Cebanu. He completed his degree in 2017, earned a master’s degree in Sports Management and Marketing from the Johan Cruyff Institute and worked as a director of sports relations development at one of the Moscow banks.
According to available information, Dubai United is a club in Sergei Lomakin’s system. The Russian businessman owns, in particular, the Cypriot “Paphos” and the capital’s “Rodina”, which plays in the First Division. Last year it was reported that the chain of stores owned by Lomakin plans to enter the UAE market in 2024, which means that the football club is just one of the Russian businessman’s projects in this country. Cheban is in his team. It is known that Ilya, for example, recommended Rodina to the Spanish coach Frank Artiga.
A story about the future newcomer of the red and whites:
“The question is how ready he is for Spartak.” What kind of newcomer does the club from Portugal bring?
In the summer of 2023, the Dubai United team flew to Moldova, trained at the Sheriff base and held sparring sessions with local clubs. Then they played a friendly match with the Turkmenistan national team. And at Dubai United’s first match in the second division, former Italian national team player Marco Materazzi was invited as a guest of honour.
Dubai United has a large number of foreign players from Ivory Coast, Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and even Portugal and Argentina. Now the former Netherlands national team player will also appear in the team. Promes should help Dubai United reach the top division, and the Dubai club will give Quincy himself the opportunity to get fit and practice the game. Maybe return to Spartak. Who knows?
