Hannibal, Manchester United’s 21-year-old French-Tunisian midfielder, speaks in flawless English as he describes his upbringing, which was very different from the glamour of United’s pre-season training camp in Los Angeles.
“I was born and raised in east Paris in a neighbourhood, not in the part where the tourists go, but I’m proud of where I am from and grew up," he told The National.
“I lived with my brothers and sisters and parents. They came from Tunisia, where mum was a physio. She worked with kids after moving to Paris. Dad worked in the market.
“He was up early selling things every day. Cheap things for everyday use – like €1 products. Dad was getting older but I’d see him wake up early and work so hard. If it rained then he didn’t earn much money.
“I saw how difficult life could be by how hard my father worked. I used to help him on a Sunday when I didn’t have a game. We would wake up at 4am, finish at 1pm. After the market we’d go home and eat a Tunisian dish made by my mother.
“As soon as we’d finish I’d play football in the neighbourhood. My parents are back living in Tunisia now, enjoying the weather and life there. I’m happy that they are there and enjoying life.”
Hannibal, like many of the planet’s top footballers, came from the football factory that is Paris, not that his heroes were star-name players.
“My hero was my brother Abderrahmen," he said. "He used to play football to a good standard and we’d go and watch him. I used to warm up with his team and ask if I could train with him. I watched him more than any games on TV.
“We didn’t have a TV package to watch football, but I remember seeing some Champions League games. I remember Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Manchester United in the Champions League and I liked this team.
“I should mention my sister Chema too. She did some sport like handball, but in our house school was important. Chema worked hard, studied medicine and became a doctor, which she still works as in Paris. She would help me with my studies.”
Hannibal’s own footballing career is also impressive.
“I started out at Paris FC, the nearest club to where we grew up – 10 minutes on a bus. It’s a nice club with a very good youth academy. I enjoyed my time there, playing football, learning from the coaches," he said.
“I had a lot of friends there and we didn’t think about making it as professionals, we just enjoyed playing football. I think that’s the most important thing when you are young.
“From Paris FC I had a nice year at AC Boulogne-Billancourt, a new experience. It’s good to be the new one sometimes and be in a new environment. Next I moved to Monaco aged 15. That was completely different. It was sunny for the first three months, like being on holiday every day and only playing football.”
United had been watching closely when Monaco paid £1m for the 14-year-old Hannibal. All of England’s top sides, as well as Bayern Munich, were interested. And, with his distinctive hairstyle, they couldn’t miss him in central midfield.
“A couple of big clubs wanted to sign me,” he said. “I knew this but kept working hard, but then we had an issue with Monaco around signing my first professional contract. All the clubs who’d been interested came back for me, but United was the one I wanted to join.”
Like his compatriot Patrice Evra before him, Hannibal moved from Monaco to United. The fee for the 2021 move was considerable, potentially rising to £9.3 million.
United had been watching him for three years having spotted Hannibal in a futsal tournament in Goussainville, Paris. Futsal is the skillful sport played indoors with a heavier, smaller ball. On the Saturday of the two-day event, Hannibal was playing for the under-12 side of Paris FC. It was “a massive winner mentality” that stood out for United’s academy scout in France.
“It was hard when I moved to Manchester, I’m not going to lie,” Hannibal said. “It’s a football city, but I was alone. I had learnt English at school but the English I heard in England was nothing like what I had been taught.
“The accents were strong. I lived with a Scottish family in digs close to the training ground. I found myself saying ‘yes’ to every question because I didn’t really understand.
“I had a little injury to my ankle but I couldn’t understand when people said ‘meankle’ in a Manchester accent. But I went to an English school so I could get used to the culture in England and became friends with other boys in the academy.
“My English became fluent so now I can speak fluent Arabic, French and English. I’m learning Spanish, too, after I spent six months in Sevilla. I’m not a shy person, I like to mix with people and engage in conversation and learn. I listen to music from around the world, from French rap to America rap, classical French music to urban English or Arabic. I love music.”
He did well at United, a confident dribbler who dropped deep to collect the ball and take it forward. His vision, technical ability and decision-making stood out, regardless of the opposition. He could change the tempo of the game. His debut for the under-23s came after just one under-18s appearance.
“At United I liked the idea that the young players were close to the first team and even trained with them. I came here early and have made several steps in the academy, first the under 18s and then 23s.
“I was with a lot of good young players who’ve now left the club. I worked hard, trained hard and waited for my chance with the first team. It took longer than I hoped but I was given a chance against Wolverhampton and had a good game and I nutmegged a player. I remember this like it was yesterday. I took advice from different coaches and learned a lot.”
One, Neil Wood, was coach of United’s 18s and then 21s.
“Hannibal has been through a range of experiences – good and bad – in the last 18 months,” Wood told The National. “There’s no doubting that he has great ability and I believe he would benefit hugely from a lot of trust being placed on him and also someone that understands him as a person and can get the best out of him.
“He’s technically gifted but can also add more goals and assists to his game. He obviously needs to improve with the petulance side of his game because he leaves himself open by taking cheap yellow cards, but I wish him well and think he’ll do well.”
Hannibal needed regular football and went on loan for the 2022/23 season to Championship side Birmingham City where he was playing every week.
“I did good and felt progress at Birmingham. You progress when you get game time. When you play every week, it’s hard to go back to the bench," he said.
“Last season was OK when I was at United, but I felt I could have had a little bit more game time after the Brighton game when I scored. As a player you always want more, so I decided to go on loan to Sevilla. I experienced a lot of things there.”
He started only one Premier League game at United last season in a 1-0 win at Burnley, though he started in both League Cup games. A loan made sense and, in January 2024, he moved to Sevilla in Spain with the option to buy him for £14m plus £3m in add-ons.
However, Hannibal barely featured for a club that had slumped to 17th in La Liga, with only three wins and 16 points from 20 games.
The Andalusians thought he had an eye for goal and that Spain would suit him because of the slower pace, yet he was dropped a week after arriving in Sevilla, where he was booked within a minute of his debut.
I chose to play for Tunisia early in my career and I’m proud to play for the national team. I was going to Tunisia every year from a being young, I speak Arabic.
Hannibal
The club issued a statement saying: “After being with him, talking to him and having seen his first minutes in Girona, we are going to give him the necessary space to understand where he is, that he is at Sevilla and what it means.”
He continued to train and worked his way back into first-team contention by the end of the season.
“It didn’t go well but I feel like I learnt a lot and that I’m more mature. I can feel that around the United players now,” Hannibal said.
“I’m not going to say that I’m considered an old player because I’m only 21, but they are not treating me like a young player either. I feel respected by my teammates.
"As a footballer, I just want to play and show myself. Every player will say the same. I’m tired of sitting on a bench watching others play.”
Hannibal has seen his close friends move and prosper.
“I was close with Antony Elanga and Teden Mengi. I’ve seen them leave the club and succeed as Premier League players and I’m proud of them. They needed to play every week like I do, but it’s harder to do it at United”.
For now, Hannibal stays at United but he’s a prime target for a move.
“I’m good with everyone here at United,” he said. “I’m a smiley happy person. My friends now are Maxi [Oyedele] and Amad [Diallo], plus Lenny [Yoro] who just joined. He speaks French and he’s young like me.”
After representing France as a junior, Hannibal chose to play as a full international for Tunisia and Tunisians are proud that a player they view as a future star chose to play for the country of his heritage over France, the country of his birth.
“I chose to play for Tunisia early in my career and I’m proud to play for the national team. I was going to Tunisia every year from being young, I speak Arabic.," he said.
“And it’s a football country. Tunisia used to have the best football league in Africa. There are a lot of talented Tunisian footballers but the current situation is a little complicated. They are working hard to improve the infrastructure. Things are working slowly to get better, but we should get there. I love Tunisia – and I love France, too.”
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
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30:
- UAE bt Nepal by 78 runs
- Hong Kong bt Singapore by 5 wickets
- Oman bt Malaysia by 2 wickets
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
Cheeseburger%20ingredients
%3Cp%3EPrice%20for%20a%20single%20burger%20%C2%A30.44%3Cbr%3EPrice%20for%20a%20single%20bun%20%C2%A30.17%3Cbr%3EPrice%20for%20a%20single%20cheese%20slice%20%C2%A30.04%3Cbr%3EPrice%20for%2010g%20Gherkins%20is%20less%20than%20%C2%A30.01%3Cbr%3EPrice%20for%2010g%20ketchup%20is%20less%20than%20%C2%A30.01%20%3Cbr%3EPrice%20for%2010g%20mustard%20is%20less%20than%20%C2%A30.01%3Cbr%3EPrice%20for%2010g%20onions%20is%20less%20than%20%C2%A30.01%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETotal%2068p%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECredit%3A%20Meal%20Delivery%20Experts%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
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.”
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
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
U19 World Cup in South Africa
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Vriitya Aravind, Deshan Chethyia, Mohammed Farazuddin, Jonathan Figy, Osama Hassan, Karthik Meiyappan, Rishabh Mukherjee, Ali Naseer, Wasi Shah, Alishan Sharafu, Sanchit Sharma, Kai Smith, Akasha Tahir, Ansh Tandon
Other must-tries
Tomato and walnut salad
A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
Price: from Dh547,600
On sale: now
