Las Palmas Viera 'flies to Dubai sans permission as seeks lucrative UAE switch'

Las Palmas captain Jonathan Viera is believes to have gone AWOL from the side in the bid to force a lucrative transfer, according to reports in Spain.

The player is considered the greatest in the club's history, having served multiple tenures in the Canary Islands since joining their academy in 2005.

Most recently, the winger signed a five-year contract with his boyhood club in 2021, but with three years left, Viera's future at Estadio Gran Canaria appears unclear.

As per AS, the player's wife Estefania underwent successful surgery to remove a tumour on her uterus.

After speaking publicly about his wife's health condition, Viera is believed to have hinted that there might not be 'long left for him' in professional football in light of his personal affairs.

Viera received the support of his president, Miguel Angel Ramirez, who said that he would endorse the club legend's right to retire whenever the time came.

But according to Marca, Viera was on Wednesday spotted boarding a flight to Dubai - and is rumoured to be looking to force a move to a club in the United Arab Emirates.

Viera was given compassionate leave and permission to fly to visit a doctor in Madrid, with a planned return on Monday - but the club were unaware of plans for international travel.

The Spanish outlet reported that although Viera snubbed a 'multimillion-dollar' move to Dubai over the summer, roiling tensions within the club, and with head coach Garcia Pimienta in particular, he is keen to restart talks.

Pimienta has overlooked Viera a number of times this season, but shut down rumours of a feud last week as he threw his support behind the player as news broke about his wife's health issues.

'First of all, Jony has passed for some complicated moment,'