Sharjah sign former Roma defender Kostas Manolas

UAE side Sharjah have signed Kostas Manolas, the former Roma and Napoli defender, from Olympiacos.

The Greek centre-back, 31, has agreed a two-year contract with the Adnoc Pro League club, with the option to extend for a further season. It is understood to be a free transfer.

In signing for Sharjah, Manolas will join at the club fellow high-profile summer recruits Paco Alcacer and Miralem Pjanic. The former Greek international will know the latter well, having played alongside the midfielder at Roma.

Manolas, who has 42 caps for his country, spent five years with Italy's capital club from 2014 – he made more than 200 appearances – before moving to Napoli in June 2019. Manolas stayed at the Stadio Diego Maradona Stadium for three seasons, winning the Coppa Italia in his first campaign.

He returned to Olympiacos, whom he represented from 2012-2014, in January and went on to help his side claim the top-flight title. Manolas won the same trophy during his first stint and is also a two-time winner of the Greek Cup.

Sharjah, the six-time UAE champions, have begun the new Pro League season in fine form, winning their opening three matches. They last won the championship - their first in 23 years - in 2019.

Miralem Pjanic poses with a Sharjah FC shirt after completing his move to the UAE club. Photo: Sharjah FC
Miralem Pjanic has signed a two-year contract with Sharjah. Photo: Sharjah FC
Miralem Pjanic puts pen to paper on his contract with Sharjah. Photo: Sharjah FC
Miralem Pjanic is welcomed to training by his Sharjah teammates. Photo: Sharjah FC
Miralem Pjanic attends a Sharjah training session. Photo: Sharjah FC
Miralem Pjanic talks to Sharjah manager Cosmin Olaroiu. Photo: Sharjah FC

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The burning issue

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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.

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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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