One year ago, Saudi Arabia rocked the foundations of the football world.
Clubs in the kingdom embarked on an unprecedented spending spree, signing 97 players at a combined cost just shy of $1 billion.
Star names including Karim Benzema, Neymar, Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte, N'Golo Kante, Malcom and Aleksandar Mitrovic followed the path of trailblazer Cristiano Ronaldo in leaving the prestige of European football to join the revolution taking shape in the Saudi Pro League.
Benzema was the reigning Ballon d'Or winner and a serial collector of titles with Real Madrid, Neymar the costliest player in history; Laporte a treble winner at Manchester City, Mane a leading light in the Senegal team that won the Africa Cup of Nations less than 18 months earlier, and so on.
Some players decided not to join, notably Mohamed Salah. Al Ittihad, the 2022 Saudi champions, reportedly tabled a £150 million offer for the Egyptian's services. Salah's club, Liverpool, stood firm. He was not for sale.
That was not expected to be the end of the matter. SPL director of football Michael Emenalo said as much last September. Many expected renewed attempts to prise Salah away from Anfield, but there have been few signs of any serious bids, with reports the 32-year-old is set to sign a contract extension with the Premier League side.
Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is another target, telling HLN: "At my age, you have to be open to everything."
De Bruyne, whose contract expires in 2025, said last month that he is not ruling out a move but City manager Pep Guardiola, speaking during the club's pre-season tour of the USA, is adamant the Belgian is staying put. He was less committal about the future of goalkeeper Ederson, who has also attracted interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Tottenham striker Richarlison has also resisted overtures, saying his desire to play in the Premier League and for his national team Brazil outweighs any financial incentive to move to the kingdom.
Transfer activity in Saudi Arabia had been notably quieter this summer until Tuesday's reports that the country's Public Investment Fund had tabled a blockbuster €1 billion offer to lure Ballon d'Or frontrunner Vinicius Jr.
The Real Madrid and Brazil striker, 24, is said to be open to discussing the offer, worth a reported €200m a season plus bonuses over five years, according to Reuters.
Vinicius' contract at the Bernabeu runs to 2027, but given Real have just signed Kylian Mbappe, another high-priority target for the Saudi Pro League over the past 12 months, it is unlikely the Spanish champions would be willing to entertain any approach.
Luring one of the best players in the world would be in keeping with the league's remit of attracting top talent, while Vinicius' age also means there is still more room for development, another key goal for the Saudi league.
Whether Vinicius decides to swap the the Spanish league for Saudi Arabia – ESPN and Reuters reported that Al Ahli are the club he is proposed to join – news of the bid could spark a flurry of activity in what has been a comparatively quiet transfer window so far.
Champions Al Hilal and Al Ittihad have made no signings at all. Players generally considered nearing the end of their careers, such as Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Spain defender Nacho, have made the move to the Gulf kingdom. Others, such as Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby and Algeria midfielder Houssem Aouar, still have their peak years ahead of them.
While Diaby and Auoar joined Al Ittihad (for fees of €60m and €12m respectively), Aubameyang and Nacho made the move to Al Qadsiah, a regional mid-table team backed by the national oil company Saudi Aramco.
The "Big Four" – Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Ittithad and Al Ahli – have the financial backing of the PIF. But changes announced in July by the Ministry of Sport approved fresh investment at 14 more clubs.
More moves are anticipated in the coming weeks. A relatively quiet summer to date can be attributed to both the European Championship and the Copa America running into the middle of July.
It would be naive to think that Saudi Arabia has suddenly lost interest in transforming the Pro League into one of the world's top leagues – or that PIF no longer has the means to turn that dream into a reality.
Saudi Arabia is the sole bidder for the 2034 World Cup – the deal for Vinicius reportedly includes a separate 10-year contract to become an ambassador for the World Cup – and a strong domestic league is vital to broader objectives to make the country an international sports hub.
Diaby and Auoar's signings are telling also because of their ages. Diaby, 25, and Auoar, 26, show a shift in focus to helping nurture young talent instead of only lavishing huge outlays on proven star names.
“We have to raise the level of training and development of young players coming through,” Emanalo told the SPL website in December. “I want to make sure that, professionally, we are competing against and with the best."
Though the signings of Aubameyang, fresh off a stellar season at Marseille, and Nacho, the Real Madrid stalwart who helped guide Spain to the 2024 Euros title, have garnered most of the attention, Al Qadsiah's recruitment of Ezequiel Fernandez (22) and Julian Quinones (27), from Boca Juniors and America, respectively, shows Saudi clubs want to establish themselves as destination where players can develop, too.
WIDE%20VIEW
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday Sassuolo v Torino (Kick-off 10.45pm UAE)
Saturday Atalanta v Sampdoria (5pm),
Genoa v Inter Milan (8pm),
Lazio v Bologna (10.45pm)
Sunday Cagliari v Crotone (3.30pm)
Benevento v Napoli (6pm)
Parma v Spezia (6pm)
Fiorentina v Udinese (9pm)
Juventus v Hellas Verona (11.45pm)
Monday AC Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
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.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
EA Sports FC 24
Company%20profile
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Last five meetings
2013: South Korea 0-2 Brazil
2002: South Korea 2-3 Brazil
1999: South Korea 1-0 Brazil
1997: South Korea 1-2 Brazil
1995: South Korea 0-1 Brazil
Note: All friendlies
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Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
Sweet%20Tooth
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