Manchester United tried to sign Edinson Cavani when David Moyes became manager in 2013. The forward spoke to his Uruguay teammates about Manchester and they understood that he would make the move to England.
It didn’t happen.
“Not only did he want so much money that he would have been the third best paid player, but so did his agent,” recalled a person who was familiar with the negotiations, jokingly adding: “I think he also wanted Old Trafford to be renamed after him!” In mitigation, Cavani did have an expensive divorce to pay for, but he priced himself out of the move.
In football, there are often two versions of the truth. Cavani was at the top of his game, a world class No 9, but the sticking point for him in reality was not money - but the fact he wanted to be the number one striker. He preferred a move to being back up at Paris Saint-Germain behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He didn’t want a repeat of his situation in Paris where he played second fiddle to the Swede. Unable to offer such guarantees because of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, United backed off.
Cavani had scored 33 goals in 38 games for Napoli before his €64 million transfer to PSG which made him the sixth most expensive player in the world. He delivered big time in Paris too, despite his fears that he would be second choice – 200 goals in 301 games until last season. During that time he lined up with Ibrahimovic, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. Now he’s a free agent about to sign for Manchester United.
The news both baffles and excites United fans. After years of profligate, haphazard recruitment under different managers, aren’t United’s signings now supposed to be more considered and better planned as a result of a detailed scouting process? Maybe, but it obviously leaves room for an opportunistic signing if one becomes available.
To many fans, Cavani smacks of late desperation after a limp transfer window when only one player has arrived so far. United still want to bring others in before Monday’s deadline.
There are parallels with the 2014 signing of Radamel Falcao, but also the 2016 signing of Ibrahimovic. One striker worked, one did not, though Falcao worked harder than anyone in training.
At least Cavani is a signing. United need a striker, especially with Champions League football this season. One injury or dip in form would greatly hinder the exciting and callow front three of Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford. The back up Odion Ighalo is seldom used by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and was poor in two recent performances in the League Cup. It’s a shame as the Nigerian was doing well before lockdown, but he looks short of the quality to play for a top Premier League team. With Cavani on board, United won’t need to look for a replacement for Ighalo when his loan is up in January.
There are those at Manchester United who would say that in days gone by the club would have gone and signed Harry Kane from Tottenham. It would be hard, but United would have got it done – eventually. Yet United had the player-magnet Sir Alex Ferguson in charge for so long and far more money than Spurs. Football’s finances and dynamics have changed.
United are adamant that their core football strategy has not changed: home-grown talent combined with high-quality recruits playing attacking football.
United’s view is that Cavani’s a winner and proven world-class striker with one of the best goalscoring records in European football – 341 goals and 65 assists in 556 club games.
United feel that he will add firepower, quality, experience (he has 116 Uruguay appearances and 50 goals for his country) and a different style to the forward line, that he’ll be a significant addition to the strength and options of the squad.
At 33, Cavani, they believe, can be a leader on the pitch and in the young dressing room. They’re right to think that since there is a dearth of natural leaders. Harry Maguire is captain but didn’t look it as his team floundered in the opening day defeat to Crystal Palace. The team has players who don’t know what it’s like to win trophies. Cavani does.
Cavani’s presence they hope will also help the development of Greenwood, Rashford and Martial and that together they can be one of the most exciting and formidable front lines in Europe. Cavani can also play across the front. The club know that the young strikers can learn from an ultra competitive and respected figure like Cavani, learn to be professional too. When Ibrahimovic arrived at Old Trafford, he became the main man in the dressing room. When he left that became Paul Pogba, with, to put it mildly, mixed results.
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Man United train ahead of Spurs test
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Cavani is so competitive that he insisted on prizes being awarded when the Uruguay players held pool competitions on the way to their 2010 World Cup semi-final positions. Unable to leave the hotel in South Africa, they settled on bottles of cologne. Cavani and his fellow striker Diego Forlan smelled very sweet by the end of that tournament.
So United will be getting someone who is used to playing with the best. He’s from Salto, right on the border with Argentina and not far from Brazil. It’s a city of only 100,000 which also gave the world Luis Suarez. Is there another city so small which has produced two world-class strikers?
And he is the same age as Lionel Messi. Granted he’s a pragmatic, opportunistic signing rather than a long-term investment like Bruno Fernandes or Donny van de Beek. Whether that is seen as a visionary and astute piece of business depends on the next few months. Cavani doesn’t speak good English but he’s learned the languages wherever he’s played – he speaks Spanish, Italian and French.
He’s been a success everywhere else he’s been, but at what point do his performances start to dip? Messi’s have not, Ibrahimovic’s did not. Those who know Cavani well say he is extremely motivated.
Like Falcao and Ibrahimovic, he’ll be given a fair chance by United fans. They want him to thrive, but if he flounders or continues to pick up the injuries which restricted him last season he'll be written off as another ill-conceived signing of the type which United were trying to avoid after the costly mistakes of Alexis Sanchez, Bastian Schweinsteiger et al. Unlike Sanchez, Cavani is expected to fit into the club’s pay structure, on a two-year contract.
"I think Cavani is going to do well," his former national teammate Diego Forlan told The National. "Edinson will show his conduct and way of doing things, his professionalism, the way he works hard and trains. It will be his conduct that other players can watch and learn from."
Amid the scepticism, every football fan loves to dream. Cavani’s last game for PSG was in April. His next could be against a vengeful Paris in October for Manchester United.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Tathoor, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: Aiz Alawda, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohammed Daggash
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
Winner: Somoud, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Al Jazi, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HyveGeo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abdulaziz%20bin%20Redha%2C%20Dr%20Samsurin%20Welch%2C%20Eva%20Morales%20and%20Dr%20Harjit%20Singh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECambridge%20and%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESustainability%20%26amp%3B%20Environment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%20plus%20undisclosed%20grant%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVenture%20capital%20and%20government%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
%3Cp%3EThe%20Department%20of%20Culture%20and%20Tourism%20-%20Abu%20Dhabi%E2%80%99s%20Arabic%20Language%20Centre%20will%20mark%20International%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Day%20at%20the%20Bologna%20Children's%20Book%20Fair%20with%20the%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Translation%20Conference.%20Prolific%20Emirati%20author%20Noora%20Al%20Shammari%2C%20who%20has%20written%20eight%20books%20that%20%20feature%20in%20the%20Ministry%20of%20Education's%20curriculum%2C%20will%20appear%20in%20a%20session%20on%20Wednesday%20to%20discuss%20the%20challenges%20women%20face%20in%20getting%20their%20works%20translated.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SCHEDULE
December 8: UAE v USA (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 9: USA v Scotland (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 11: UAE v Scotland (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 12: UAE v USA (ICC Academy Oval 1)
December 14: USA v Scotland (ICC Academy Oval 1)
December 15: UAE v Scotland (ICC Academy Oval 1)
All matches start at 10am
MATHC INFO
England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)
New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
Racecard
%3Cp%3E%0D5pm%3A%20Al%20Maha%20Stables%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(Turf)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E5.30pm%3A%20Al%20Anoud%20Stables%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E6pm%3A%20Wathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E6.30pm%3A%20Arabian%20Triple%20Crown%20Round%202%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(PA)%20Dh%20300%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E7pm%3A%20Liwa%20Oasis%20%E2%80%93%20Group%202%20(PA)%20Dh300%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%3A%20Dames%20Stables%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Mallorca v Alaves (4pm)
Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)
Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)
Sunday
Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)
Sevilla v Espanyol (3pm)
Leganes v Real Betis (5pm)
Eibar v Real Sociedad (7pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (midnight)
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
