Miralem Pjanic was welcomed at training by his new Sharjah teammates on Wednesday night after joining on a free transfer from Barcelona - one of the most prominent deals in recent UAE football history.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina international, 32, signed a two-year contract with the six-time UAE champions, with an option to extend, and could even make his debut in the Adnoc Pro League on Friday.
A former Roma and Juventus midfielder, Pjanic moved to Barcelona from the Serie A champions in June 2020 for €60 million ($59.5m), but made only 30 appearances for the club. All of those came in his first season at Camp Nou. He spent last season on loan at Turkish side Besiktas, playing 26 times across all competitions.
Pjanic, who won four Serie A titles with Juventus, is said to have waived the remaining two years of his Barcelona contract, meaning he will not receive any financial compensation from the Spanish club.
In a post on his Instagram to Barcelona, Pjanic said: “There is no doubt that I will always carry this city, this team and the culers in my heart. When Barca called me, my wish finally came true.
“Although we were all expecting something different, I went first, it will always be an honour to have worn this shirt. Long live Barca! Today and always!”
At Sharjah, Pjanic joins another high-profile recent recruit, Paco Alcacer, as the 2018/19 UAE champions seek to improve on last year’s runner-up finish in the league.
Sharjah began the 2022/23 campaign on Saturday with a 2-0 win away to Shabab Al Ahli, with Alcacer on the scoresheet. Cosmin Olaroiu’s side next face Baniyas at home on Friday.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The biog
Name: James Mullan
Nationality: Irish
Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)
Favourite book or author: “That’s a really difficult question. I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt, The Secret History. I’d recommend that, go and have a read of that.”
Dream: “It would be to continue to have fun and to work with really interesting people, which I have been very fortunate to do for a lot of my life. I just enjoy working with very smart, fun people.”
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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Abu Dhabi World Pro 2019 remaining schedule:
Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
