All to play for Lucas Leiva in Liverpool’s midfield crisis

After an impressive display in last month’s goalless draw at Arsenal, Brendan Rodgers was ebullient in his praise of midfielder Lucas Leiva.

“He is the best defensive midfielder we have,” the Liverpool manager said. “He came in tonight and did a great job.”

The paucity of alternatives means Rodgers’ statement is correct almost by default, which makes the fact that Lucas was almost loaned to Besiktas in the summer puzzling.

Despite being on the brink of leaving the club just three weeks ago, Lucas could play a decisive role at Old Trafford today as Liverpool attempt to overcome their greatest and oldest foes. While Lucas has primarily been used as a holding midfielder since arriving at Anfield in 2007, he was more of a box-to-box player at his previous club Gremio in his home country of Brazil.

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In the current Liverpool team, such functions are fulfilled by James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Emre Can, none of whom have looked comfortable when fielded deepest in the engine room.

The injured Joe Allen has also been deployed in that holding role, but the Welshman lacks the defensive nous to play there week in, week out.

All of that means Lucas – seemingly in the wilderness when the 2015/16 campaign began – has suddenly become a key player for Liverpool again.

The 28-year-old Brazilian’s ability to cover space efficiently helps protect a rather ropey backline.

His disciplined positioning also allows the likes of Milner and Henderson to drive forward in possession without having to worry about what is going on behind them.

With Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Memphis Depay all likely to try to pick up the ball between the lines today, it is vital that Liverpool field a designated holder in front of the defence.

Lucas is not just the best option at the club for such a duty, he is the only one.

sports@thenational.ae

Citizenship-by-investment programmes

United Kingdom

The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).

All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.

The Caribbean

Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.

Portugal

The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.

“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.

Greece

The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.

Spain

The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.

Cyprus

Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.

Malta

The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.

The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.

Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.

Egypt

A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.

Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties

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All to play for Lucas Leiva in Liverpool’s midfield crisis

The holding midfielder – seemingly in the wilderness when the 2015/16 campaign began – has suddenly become a key player for Liverpool again.

Citizenship-by-investment programmes

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