Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock believes Manchester United was “a bit too big” for Wilfried Zaha.
Zaha was considered one of the brightest young talents in the country when United paid Palace £15 million to sign him in January 2013 but the winger struggled to settle at Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old spent six months on loan at Cardiff earlier this year but again failed to rediscover his best form and opted to re-join Palace on loan in the summer.
“Man United was probably a bit too big really,” Warnock said.
“They haven’t got time to educate players as much as a club like Palace have.
“We bring through players like Wilfried all the time and they need educating.
“To take him as quickly as they did and with the money involved, it was very difficult I think.”
Zaha never started a game for United in the English Premier League and made just four appearances for the club in all competitions.
The winger’s displays for United were in stark contrast to the kind of form that saw him named the Football League’s Young Player of the Year in 2012.
“I spoke to Wilfried the day after I got the job at Palace,” Warnock said.
“There were four managers after him in the Premier League so there are a lot of managers who think he can do it.
“I just think he needs to be at home and to be loved – the fans love him here.”
Zaha’s attitude came into question during his barren spell at United but Warnock insists he has been impressed with the player’s character since joining the club.
“His attitude has been questioned but I know Wilfried, it’s not his attitude, it’s guidance he needs really,” Warnock said.
“He’s a bit like Victor Moses (whom Warnock managed during his first spell as Palace manager).
“Victor used to play for himself at times. I once told him he could play for his country and make a fabulous living or he could be playing for Bromley in a couple of years.
“Then we went to Cardiff one night, it was chucking it down with rain and for some reason something clicked – I’ve never seen him work as hard in his life.
“He tackled back and was just amazing – that’s why I’m disappointed he hasn’t got a regular place somewhere as well.”
Zaha’s arrival, along with club-record signing James McArthur, boosts Palace’s attacking options.
Their success under Tony Pulis last term was based on a mean defensive record but Warnock is keen for his players to play with freedom and flair, starting at home against Burnley on Saturday.
“I want us to entertain,” Warnock said.
“Obviously I want us to be difficult to break down but I don’t want to stop them from attacking.
“We’ve got a number of strong attacking players so I want us to try to get forward and create chances.
“It’s a great league and Selhurst Park is an exciting place – if we can get it buzzing it’ll be a great home for us.”
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Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
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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
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