• Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema (L), Real Madrid's French defender Aurelien Tchouameni (C) and Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Eder Militao attend a training session at the Ciudad Real Madrid training complex in Valdebebas, outskirts of Madrid, on December 29, 2022, on the eve of their Spanish League football match against Real Valladolid FC. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
    Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema (L), Real Madrid's French defender Aurelien Tchouameni (C) and Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Eder Militao attend a training session at the Ciudad Real Madrid training complex in Valdebebas, outskirts of Madrid, on December 29, 2022, on the eve of their Spanish League football match against Real Valladolid FC. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
  • From left: Real Madrid's Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric attend a training session on Thursday. AFP
    From left: Real Madrid's Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric attend a training session on Thursday. AFP
  • Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy during training in Madrid. EPA
    Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy during training in Madrid. EPA
  • Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga and Karim Benzema attend a training session in Valdebebas. AFP
    Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga and Karim Benzema attend a training session in Valdebebas. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy, Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga during training. AFP
    Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy, Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga during training. AFP
  • Real Madrid's players attend a training session in Valdebebas. AFP
    Real Madrid's players attend a training session in Valdebebas. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois attends a training session. AFP
    Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois attends a training session. AFP
  • Real Madrid's David Alaba during training. AFP
    Real Madrid's David Alaba during training. AFP
  • Marco Asensio, left, and Federico Valverde attend a training session. AFP
    Marco Asensio, left, and Federico Valverde attend a training session. AFP
  • Vinicius Junior, left, and Luka Modric during Real Madrid's training session. AFP
    Vinicius Junior, left, and Luka Modric during Real Madrid's training session. AFP
  • Real Madrid's defender Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Junior attend a training session. AFP
    Real Madrid's defender Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Junior attend a training session. AFP
  • From left: Real Madrid's Luka Modric, Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Rodrygo attend a training session. AFP
    From left: Real Madrid's Luka Modric, Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Rodrygo attend a training session. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Vinicius and Antonio Rudiger train on Thursday. EPA
    Real Madrid's Vinicius and Antonio Rudiger train on Thursday. EPA

Sport

Football

Karim Benzema trains with Real Madrid after France retirement - in pictures

Real and Barcelona resume fight for La Liga title after World Cup break

The National

December 30, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Real Madrid ramped up reparations for the resumption of La Liga after the World Cup break and one player who can't wait for the action to begin is Karim Benzema.

The France forward announced his retirement from international football after missing out on the finals in Qatar due to injury.

Benzema scored 37 goals in 97 games for France and made the decision to quit the national team just 24 hours after Les Bleus lost the World Cup final to Argentina after a penalty shoot out.

His hopes of adding a world title to his Ballon d’Or award were ruined by a left thigh injury while training with France. However, reports have emerged that Benzema could have recovered in time for the knockout stage and that the relations between Benzema and France manager Didier Deschamps had broken down.

It is in the backdrop that Barcelona and Real Madrid resume their fight for the Spanish title.

When club play stopped in early November, Barcelona and Madrid were already threatening to make it a two-team race with nine points separating second-place Madrid from Real Sociedad in third.

Barcelona enjoy a two-point lead and host rivals Espanyol at Camp Nou on Saturday, a day before defending champions Madrid visit Valladolid.

“We have Benzema back, which is very important,” manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Thursday. “A very motivated player has returned and we are convinced that he is going to give us a lot.”

  • France forward Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring during a World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan at Parc des Princes in Paris, in November 2021. Benzema announced his retirement from international on December 19, 2022. AFP
    France forward Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring during a World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan at Parc des Princes in Paris, in November 2021. Benzema announced his retirement from international on December 19, 2022. AFP
  • France's Karim Benzema training ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup that he would eventuall miss through injury. Reuters
    France's Karim Benzema training ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup that he would eventuall miss through injury. Reuters
  • Karim Benzema alongside Kylian Mbappea during the Nations League match against Croatia in June 2022. AFP
    Karim Benzema alongside Kylian Mbappea during the Nations League match against Croatia in June 2022. AFP
  • Karim Benemza scored 37 times in 97 appearances for France. AFP
    Karim Benemza scored 37 times in 97 appearances for France. AFP
  • Karim Benzema hugs France manager Didier Deschamps after the Nations League game against Austria in June 2022. AFP
    Karim Benzema hugs France manager Didier Deschamps after the Nations League game against Austria in June 2022. AFP
  • Karim Benzema training with France at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. AFP
    Karim Benzema training with France at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. AFP
  • France's Karim Benzema in action against Croatia in the Nations League match in June 2022. AP
    France's Karim Benzema in action against Croatia in the Nations League match in June 2022. AP
  • France's Karim Benzema under pressure from Josip Stanisic of Croatia during the Nations League match in June 2022. Reuters
    France's Karim Benzema under pressure from Josip Stanisic of Croatia during the Nations League match in June 2022. Reuters
  • Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for France against Denmark during the Nations League match in June 2022. AFP
    Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for France against Denmark during the Nations League match in June 2022. AFP
  • Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for France against Denmark during the Nations League match in June 2022. AFP
    Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for France against Denmark during the Nations League match in June 2022. AFP
  • Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for France against Denmark during the Nations League match in June 2022. AFP
    Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for France against Denmark during the Nations League match in June 2022. AFP
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Three tips from La Perle's performers

1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.

2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.

3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

The biog

Age: 59

From: Giza Governorate, Egypt

Family: A daughter, two sons and wife

Favourite tree: Ghaf

Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense 

Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

How to get there

Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
 

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COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Letstango.com

Started: June 2013

Founder: Alex Tchablakian

Based: Dubai

Industry: e-commerce

Initial investment: Dh10 million

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month

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Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.

The biog

Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer

Favourite superhero: Batman

Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.

Favourite car: Lamborghini

War on waste
The specs: McLaren 600LT

Price, base: Dh914,000

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm

Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm

Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km

Essentials

The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Seattle from Dh6,755 return in economy and Dh24,775 in business class.
The cruise
UnCruise Adventures offers a variety of small-ship cruises in Alaska and around the world. A 14-day Alaska’s Inside Passage and San Juans Cruise from Seattle to Juneau or reverse costs from $4,695 (Dh17,246), including accommodation, food and most activities. Trips in 2019 start in April and run until September. 
 

While you're here
While you're here
The specs

  Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now

Results

57kg quarter-finals

Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.

60kg quarter-finals

Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.

63.5kg quarter-finals

Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.

67kg quarter-finals

Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.

71kg quarter-finals

Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.

Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.

81kg quarter-finals

Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Rocketman

Director: Dexter Fletcher

Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars 

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Updated: December 30, 2022, 7:25 AM
Real MadridKarim BenzemaLa LigaWorld Cup