ABU DHABI // Jorge Valdivia will not let success go to his head after arriving at Al Wahda this summer with a Copa America winners medal in his collection.
Valdivia was part of the Chile team who beat Argentina on penalties in the final of this summer’s South American tournament, which took place in Chile.
“Winning the Copa America has elevated the national team to a new level and the country’s football in general,” said the Chile playmaker when he was presented as a Wahda player to the media on Sunday at Al Nahyan Stadium.
“But on a personal note I still live my own life with my wife and kids, and play at the same level, so nothing has changed for me.”
Read more:
– AGL team guides: Al Wahda – Big names Valdivia and Denilson expected to bring silverware
– Javier Aguirre says Al Wahda signing Jorge Valdivia will miss their opening AGL match
Valdivia, 31, said a return to the Arabian Gulf League had always been on his radar after his two-season spell at Al Ain from 2008 to 2010, winning the President’s Cup, the league cup, and the Super Cup. He nearly joined Fujairah at the start of last season.
“I know this country well and the way of life. My family enjoyed the wonderful lifestyle we had at Al Ain. So it wasn’t a difficult decision to return to the UAE,” he said.
“I had several offers from various clubs around the world but decided to join Wahda when the offer was made.
“I had so many other options, but when I got the call from Wahda I had no doubts. When I got the call from Wahda management, they made it clear they were very interested in me.
“I know the league, I know the city and I know the country. My family is very happy to be here. That was also important.”
He added: “The league has also grown to a new level since I last played here.”
Dr Jamal Al Hosani, a member of the club’s board of directors, said they pulled off a coup with Valdivia’s signing.
“For us, it was a big plus,” he said. “Everybody knows Valdivia. His abilities were shown in the Copa America.
“Big clubs were looking at him and we were fortunate to have him sign for us. He will be a big draw for both Wahda and Middle East football.”
Valdivia’s fitness will be assessed before he makes his debut for Wahda.
His arrival was delayed as his Brazilian club, Palmeiras, did not want him to leave until his contract ended on August 17.
Al Hosani said Valdivia’s debut for Wahda “is a technical question” which “only the coach”, Javier Aguirre, can answer. Wahda’s next match is against capital rivals Al Jazira in an Arabian Gulf Cup opener on Friday.
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The biog
Age: 46
Number of Children: Four
Hobby: Reading history books
Loves: Sports
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Essentials
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Seattle from Dh6,755 return in economy and Dh24,775 in business class.
The cruise
UnCruise Adventures offers a variety of small-ship cruises in Alaska and around the world. A 14-day Alaska’s Inside Passage and San Juans Cruise from Seattle to Juneau or reverse costs from $4,695 (Dh17,246), including accommodation, food and most activities. Trips in 2019 start in April and run until September.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
US households add $601bn of debt in 2019
American households borrowed another $601 billion (Dh2.2bn) in 2019, the largest yearly gain since 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to February data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Fuelled by rising mortgage debt as homebuyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates, the increase last year brought total household debt to a record high, surpassing the previous peak reached in 2008 just before the market crash, according to the report.
Following the 22nd straight quarter of growth, American household debt swelled to $14.15 trillion by the end of 2019, the New York Fed said in its quarterly report.
In the final three months of the year, new home loans jumped to their highest volume since the fourth quarter of 2005, while credit cards and auto loans also added to the increase.
The bad debt load is taking its toll on some households, and the New York Fed warned that more and more credit card borrowers — particularly young people — were falling behind on their payments.
"Younger borrowers, who are disproportionately likely to have credit cards and student loans as their primary form of debt, struggle more than others with on-time repayment," New York Fed researchers said.
Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
