Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic has arrived in the UAE, where he is expected to finalise a deal with Adnoc Pro League side Sharjah.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina international, 32, touched down in Dubai early on Wednesday. He is understood to be assessing an offer of a two-year contract with the six-time UAE champions.
Pjanic did not train with Barcelona on Tuesday ahead of the club's Uefa Champions League opener against Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday. The former Roma and Juventus midfielder reportedly waived the remaining two years of his Barcelona contract, meaning he will not receive any financial compensation from the Camp Nou club.
At Tuesday’s press conference to preview the Champions League match with Plzen, Barcelona manager Xavi said: " I like [Miralem] as a player and a person, but he had a decision in his hands to leave in order to play more and I understand that perfectly. He wants to play more minutes.
"He’s been a fantastic professional. I think he could help us. But everyone chooses their path."
Pjanic, who signed for Barcelona from Juventus in 2020 for €60 million ($59.5m), had been linked last week with a move to Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, whose manager Rudi Garcia coached him at Roma.
However, Nassr are believed to have completed their transfer business for this window. Pjanic was rumoured also to be contemplating offers from Ligue 1 sides Marseille and Nice.
Having won four Serie A titles with Juventus, Pjanic made only 30 appearances for Barcelona, all of which came during his first campaign at the club. He spent last season on loan at Turkish side Besiktas, playing 26 times across competitions.
Sharjah, who won the most recent of their UAE championships in 2019, began the 2022/23 Adnoc Pro League on Saturday with a 2-0 win away to Shabab Al Ahli. New signing Paco Alcacer scored the second, on his debut.
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Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
if you go
The flights
Fly direct to Kutaisi with Flydubai from Dh925 return, including taxes. The flight takes 3.5 hours. From there, Svaneti is a four-hour drive. The driving time from Tbilisi is eight hours.
The trip
The cost of the Svaneti trip is US$2,000 (Dh7,345) for 10 days, including food, guiding, accommodation and transfers from and to Tbilisi or Kutaisi. This summer the TCT is also offering a 5-day hike in Armenia for $1,200 (Dh4,407) per person. For further information, visit www.transcaucasiantrail.org/en/hike/
RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m
Winner: AF Mozhell, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Majdi, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: AF Athabeh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: AF Eshaar, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi
4pm: Gulf Cup presented by Longines Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Al Roba’a Al Khali, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Younis Al Kalbani
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Apolo Kid, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muahiri
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
The specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
