"Iniesta isn't training," said a Brazilian reporter with an expression of mock concern at Barcelona's training ground.
Behind him, the other 22 of Spain's domestic league and cup winners limbered through one of their final training sessions before Saturday's Uefa Champions League final against Juventus in Berlin.
The cameraman was not satisfied with the take and the reporter repeated the news that one of the club’s greatest players was not training and might be unable to play in his third European Cup final, although he was present.
Andres Iniesta’s absence from the training aside, coach Luis Enrique had every reason to feel satisfied as he surveyed his players wearing fluorescent bibs and €1,500 (Dh6,000) GPS vests, which, the club says, have reduced muscle injuries at Barcelona by 50 per cent.
Read more:
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His team aim to win the treble for only the second time in the club’s 116-year history. They have improved throughout the season, they have carried few injuries and they look like the best team in the world right now.
As the players went through their moves on the pristine surface of Camp Tito Vilanova, a lone crane driver building apartments in one of the few areas around Barcelona where there is space watched from his cab.
He was fortunate. Prying eyes are blocked out by vast advertising billboards.
One of the club’s photographers was afforded access all areas and could reach over players when they huddled to convene after an exercise.
Lionel Messi, in ankle socks exposing a leg tattoo up to his knees, worked hard under the watchful sunglass-covered eyes of Enrique. The mood was serious and the basketball hoop the players had installed for end-of-session fun saw no action.
After the session Iniesta was asked about his injury.
“I’m not even thinking about not being there on Saturday,” the 31-year-old midfielder said.
“From here until Saturday everything will be fine and I’m sure I will be ready to play, to help win the Champions League and to crown a very special season for all of us.”
The other Barca players spoke in similar tones and terms.
Xavi and Javier Mascherano were the most articulate, German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen spoke fluently in English but said little beyond clichés about wanting to win.
Sergio Busquets said of opponents Juventus: “It’s going to be very complicated, very hard. Their system is different to ours in midfield, they play with a line of four, we’re not as many. We need to keep possession and win the game in midfield.”
Tributes were paid to Xavi, who hopes to collect a record-extending 25th trophy in the team’s colours on Saturday before departing for Qatar.
“Xavi is No 1,” Iniesta said. “I have been very fortunate to have him as my friend and teammate for my whole career. I hope this last game for him will end in the desired victory.”
Xavi smiled. “Who doesn’t want to win?” he asked.
“We’re Barca, we train to win, we’re a winning team. Drawing a game is almost failure here.
“It has been like that for a generation and the fact we are here shows it has been successful.”
Few players get to bow out at the top in a Champions League final like Xavi. “For me it’s a spectacular end to my Barcelona career. I want to end it winning,” he said.
Barcelona are favourites to do so, but despite a feeling of euphoria, Mascherano denied that the team were wrapped up in it.
The Argentine agreed that if the players believed they could not be beaten then it was a dangerous attitude.
“This euphoria among people is not how we feel,” he said. “We can, and do, control our emotions and, as soon as the ball is rolling, then there’s no favourite team.”
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
The%20specs
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TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Fourth-round clashes for British players
- Andy Murray (1) v Benoit Paire, Centre Court (not before 4pm)
- Johanna Konta (6) v Caroline Garcia (21), Court 1 (4pm)
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
