Luis Suarez, left, and Lionel Messi during their time together at Spanish club Barcelona. EPA
Luis Suarez, left, and Lionel Messi during their time together at Spanish club Barcelona. EPA
Luis Suarez, left, and Lionel Messi during their time together at Spanish club Barcelona. EPA
Luis Suarez, left, and Lionel Messi during their time together at Spanish club Barcelona. EPA

Inter Miami's Barca boys: Suarez set to join Messi, Alba and Busquets in MLS


Steve Luckings
  • English
  • Arabic

Luis Suarez will be reunited with some familiar faces when he joins Inter Miami.

Suarez is expected to join the MLS club on a one-year deal following his final game at Brazilian club Gremio this weekend.

Waiting to welcome the 36-year-old Uruguayan striker will be Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets – who all joined Miami over the summer.

The quartet enjoyed unprecedented success during their time at Barcelona – including a treble-winning campaign of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Uefa Champions League titles in 2014/15.

His reunion with Messi will be especially emotional and, Miami hope, as prolific as their days together in Spain; during their six years at Camp Nou (2014-2020) Suarez and Messi scored 502 goals between them.

Marauding left-back Alba and metronomic midfielder Busquets also shared in that success. We take a look at the quartet's time at Barcelona.

Luis Suarez, centre, formed a prolific partnership with Lionel Messi during their six years together at Barcelona. Reuters
Luis Suarez, centre, formed a prolific partnership with Lionel Messi during their six years together at Barcelona. Reuters

Luis Suarez (striker)

Barcelona appearances: 283 (2014-2020)

Goals: 198

Honours:

4 La Liga (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)

4 Copa del Rey (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)

2 Spanish Super Cup (2016, 2018)

1 Uefa Champions League (2015)

1 Uefa Super Cup (2015)

1 Fifa Club World Cup (2015)

Lionel Messi is the most prolific scorer and decorated player in Barcelona's history. EPA
Lionel Messi is the most prolific scorer and decorated player in Barcelona's history. EPA

Lionel Messi (forward)

Barcelona appearances: 778 (2004-2021)

Goals: 672

Honours:

10 La Liga (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)

7 Copa del Rey (2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)

7 Spanish Super Cup (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018)

4 Uefa Champions League (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015)

3 Uefa Super Cup (2009, 2011, 2015)

3 Fifa Club World Cup (2009, 2011, 2015)

Sergio Busquets, left, was the midfield metronome in many of Barcelona's great sides since breaking into the team in 2008. Getty
Sergio Busquets, left, was the midfield metronome in many of Barcelona's great sides since breaking into the team in 2008. Getty

Sergio Busquets (midfielder)

Barcelona appearances: 722 (2008-2023)

Goals: 18

Honours:

9 La Liga (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023)

7 Copa del Rey (2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)

7 Spanish Super Cup (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2023)

3 Uefa Champions League (2009, 2011, 2015)

2 Uefa Super Cup (2011, 2015)

3 Fifa Club World Cup (2009, 2011, 2015)

Jordi Alba, right, developed into one of the most attacking full-backs in world football during his time at Barcelona alongside Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. EPA
Jordi Alba, right, developed into one of the most attacking full-backs in world football during his time at Barcelona alongside Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. EPA

Jordi Alba (defender)

Barcelona appearances: 459 (2012-2023)

Goals: 27

Honours:

6 La Liga (2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023)

5 Copa del Rey (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)

4 Spanish Super Cup (2013, 2016, 2018, 2023)

1 Uefa Champions League (2015)

1 Uefa Super Cup (2015)

1 Fifa Club World Cup (2015)

Tu%20Jhoothi%20Main%20Makkaar%20
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The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn

Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
%E2%80%98White%20Elephant%E2%80%99
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jesse%20V%20Johnson%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Michael%20Rooker%2C%20Bruce%20Willis%2C%20John%20Malkovich%2C%20Olga%20Kurylenko%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Spies in Disguise'

Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane

Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

UAE WARRIORS RESULTS

Featherweight

Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)

TKO round 2

Catchweight 90kg

Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)

Split points decision

Welterweight

Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)

TKO round 1

Flyweight (women)

Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)

Unanimous points decision

Lightweight

Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)

TKO round 1

Catchweight 100kg

Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)

Rear neck choke round 1

Featherweight

James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)

TKO round 2

Welterweight

Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)

TKO round 1

Middleweight

Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)

Unanimous points decision

Bantamweight

Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)

Unanimous points decision

Welterweight

Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)

TKO round 1

Bantamweight

Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)

TKO round 3

Lightweight

Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)

TKO round 1

Middleweight

Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)

Submission round 2

Lightweight

Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)

TKO round 2

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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.”

MATCH INFO

World Cup qualifier

Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')

UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')

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yallacompare profile

Date of launch: 2014

Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer

Based: Media City, Dubai 

Sector: Financial services

Size: 120 employees

Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)

If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

The trip

Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.

 

Updated: December 06, 2023, 8:20 AM