Video: Ali Saleh: The Goldenboy Of UAE Football

Being a professional athlete forces you to grow up quickly.

From the minute you meet Ali Saleh he comes across as calm and composed, and then you realise that he was born in 2000.

“As a professional footballer it’s not just about going on the field and playing for yourself,” he says. “You have to learn the tactics of the manager and be ready to adapt your game for the benefit of the team.”

Still only 19-years-old, Saleh has long been tipped as one of the UAE’s most promising footballers, in fact, he holds the honour of being youngest-ever player to play in the UAE Pro League, having made his debut for Al Wasl the day after his 15th birthday.

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