Sebastian Tagliabue described it as not only a pleasure, but an honour.
The Argentine forward has spent five years in Abu Dhabi with Al Wahda, a fantastically fertile spell that lifted him to his perch as the most prolific foreign striker in UAE football history.
Now he could be set to represent his adopted country. It is a path made possible by President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed’s November degree, a path that may lead to Tagliabue, previously never capped by Argentina, competing for the UAE.
That, potentially, opens up a place in the 2019 Asian Cup squad for the tournament the UAE are hosting next January.
On the surface, what Tagliabue would bring to the national team is obvious. Since joining Wahda in 2013, he has scored 153 goals in 173 matches in all competitions. In the league alone, he has found the net 111 times, unrivalled for an overseas player.
Known for a fierce work ethic and a dedication to his craft, Tagliabue is a model professional, if a little fiery in the heat of battle. Although a frontman, he has been sent off four times in the past four seasons.
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But his application and aptitude would be a welcome addition to the UAE.
Asked on Wednesday what he would provide the national team, should the citizenship be processed, Tagliabue replied with a smile: “what do you think? I will give everything”.
His exploits in UAE football certainly back that up. Instrumental in Wahda’s recent success – Tagliabue has helped the club to a President’s Cup crown, two Arabian Gulf Cup titles and two Super Cup victories, not to mention twin runner-up finishes in the league – he is a leader both on the pitch and off it. He has often captained the side.
Away from football, Tagliabue genuinely enjoys living in the Emirates. His children are settled. In all, he has lived in the region since 2010 having spent three years in Saudi Arabia prior to joining Wahda.
However, at 33, Tagliabue constitutes a short-term option for the UAE, no matter how well he looks after himself physically. Also, it remains to be seen where he would slot into Alberto Zaccheroni’s side.
At present, Ali Mabkhout is the spearhead to the attack, with the Al Jazira striker's goalscoring increasing considerably since his club has employed him more centrally.
Even though Tagliabue boasts his own impressive record, the two do not seem an obvious fit in the current UAE set-up.
Mabkhout scored twice in Tuesday's 3-0 friendly victory against Laos and, through the early weeks of the new season, looks fit and focused.
Top scorer at the 2015 Asian Cup, the next tournament, on home soil in January, can offer only added incentive.
Tagliabue’s inclusion would give Zaccheroni a headache of sorts, although some would argue it is a nice problem to have. Particularly given Ahmed Khalil's recurring fitness issues, particularly when the Laos victory was the first time the UAE have scored more than once in a match during Zaccheroni's tenure. In 12 games, they have only six goals.
In time, Tagliabue could set a precedent. Others might follow, with Al Wasl’s Caio and Fabio De Lima close to eligibility, although representing the UAE national team would have to appeal to the Brazilian duo.
There are questions as well as to how the inclusion of expats would impact the development of Emirati talent going forward.
Still, Tagliabue may be the trailblazer. It highlights how UAE football is on the verge of real and rapid change.
THE SPECS
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
The Lowdown
Kesari
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
ROUTE%20TO%20TITLE
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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