The striker of the Iranian national team and the "Shabab Al-Ahli" club (UAE), ethnic Turkmen Sardar Azmoun, arrived in Ashgabat. The footballer published photos from the "Magtymguly Fragi" park complex on social networks, accompanying them with the geotag "Ashgabat, Turkmenistan".

Azmoun joined "Shabab Al Ahli" in July 2024. Last season, the 30-year-old forward played 39 matches in all competitions, scoring 26 goals and providing 10 assists. Together with the team, he won the UAE Championship, the Super Cup and the UAE President's Cup, became the silver medalist of the UAE League Cup and reached the quarter-finals of the second AFC Champions League.

Earlier in his career, Azmoun played for Russian clubs "Zenit", "Rostov" and "Rubin", as well as German "Bayer" and Italian "Roma". The player's transfer value is currently estimated at 8 million euros, while at the peak of his career at "Zenit" it reached 25 million euros.

The footballer's previous visit to Ashgabat took place in March 2024 within the framework of the 2026 World Cup qualifying match between the national teams of Turkmenistan and Iran, which ended with a 1:0 victory for the guests.

At that time, the head coach of the Iranian team, Amir Ghalenoei, noted at a press conference Azmoun's special attachment to the Turkmen people. The player has repeatedly emphasized his Turkmen roots, including during his performance for "Zenit", when he appeared at the Russian Cup award ceremony in a national Turkmen costume - a red don and a white telpek.