Jordi Camp. Socio (Barca club member) since the day he was born in 1975. Sits opposite the main stand, second tier.
“It’s a good thing for Barca’s president Bartomeu that there are no fans allowed in games right now because they would be going crazy at him.
"I blame him and his board 100 per cent for this situation with Messi. They have spoiled everything built by [former president] Joan Laporta, by Pep Guardiola, by Johan Cruyff. He’s destroyed the Masia, he’s had four technical directors in five years. They wasted an incredible amount of money on players and still there’s no sign of what their project actually is.
"I can understand why Messi wants to walk away from this and I think the president wants him to leave. Bartomeu told his best mate Luis Suarez to leave in a flash, knowing that would annoy Messi. Barca need the money, they need to save money. The finances of the club have been a major problem and the directors offer personal guarantees to the bank when they take control. Barca is not a company like other football clubs, remember, but one owned by its members.
"I’m still not sure Messi will go, but if he does he’ll have my eternal respect. I’m just sad that my four-year-old son, Bru, will not remember him. He’s already been to Camp Nou, but will he remember seeing Messi, the greatest player ever?
"Messi made me happy, but while he expressed himself so well on the pitch, he’s not comfortable talking off it. The bureau fax he sent saying he wanted to leave was cold. He’s not stupid, but he lives in a bubble. His Argentinian accent hasn’t changed in 20 years because he’s surrounded by Argentinians. He doesn’t speak Catalan, but nobody can be perfect. I still consider him Catalan.
"I’ll remember him so well with so many incredible memories. The best was against Manchester United at Wembley in 2011. There, you had the complete performances from a team with six Catalans in the starting line-up and eight Masia graduates managed by a Catalan, Pep, and assisted by a Catalan, Tito Vilanova. They played the perfect game in the Champions League final against a United team who had reached three of those finals in four years. Messi’s reaction to that was the best I saw, when he kicked the microphone. It meant too much to him. I was behind the goal going crazy.
"I remember him in that semi-final win against Madrid in 2011 a few months earlier too. Barca outclassed Jose Mourinho’s team and he resorted to saying ‘Why? Why? Why?’ after the game. Loved it.
"Messi still has two years at the very top. He can then drop back to be a midfielder like Xavi because he’s such a good passer and so intelligent when he has the ball. I’ll miss him and still hope he doesn’t go.”
_______________
Barca fans protest outside Camp Nou
_______________
Roberto Garcia. Season ticket in main stand, first tier, since 2000.
“I travel a lot for my job but I always said that wherever I was in the world, I would go back to Camp Nou for the final game where Guardiola, Iniesta, Xavi and Messi were together. I did this in 2012. I’d lived through their golden era and loved it. I stood behind the goal in Rome and watched Messi hang in the air to score that incredible goal in the European Cup final. I was at Wembley behind the goal when he kicked the hoarding in celebration.
"It’s absolutely tragic what has been allowed to happen with Messi and for him to leave in these circumstances. Andres Iniesta was given a fitting, emotional send off. Xavi too. But I also believe Messi’s tactics are wrong because he holds all the cards. He could have gone back into training and told the club that he was going to play one more season and then leave for free.
"The club don’t want him to do that because they want money for him. They want his €100 million (Dh435m) gross annual salary off the payroll and they want to get some money for him. They got it wrong by allowing Iniesta and Xavi, two of the best players in the world, to leave for free. Football is about trophies but also economics. The best clubs balance the two. Barca have not.
"So he’s played into their hands by staying away and it all looks a little ugly. It could get uglier, because fans will revert to siding with their club in the long term.
"Messi is adamant that he wants out but I don’t believe he’s thinking clearly and he doesn’t deserve the fans turning against him. He’s getting the benefit of the doubt at the moment because he’s Messi and doesn’t have a reputation for being a trouble causer, but he doesn’t want a situation where fans start to have some sympathy for the board, who will be briefing against him, because the board do not deserve any sympathy.
"If he goes, history will still show that Bartomeu let Messi go. And that will be even more incredible as there will be elections in nine months and he won’t win them, but Messi will have gone in awful circumstances.
"What would Barca do with the money anyway? The mismanagement of the Neymar money is legendary and that of the football team too. They’ve let club legends grow old while playing, which isn’t normal. Too many of the players are over 30 but it’s a complicated situation. This team still won the league in 2018 and 2019.
"Deep down, I’m not convinced he’s played his last game for Barca. I’d love to see him in the shirt again, even if it’s just once because he’s given me so many incredible memories and won so many football games against the best sides in the world single-handedly.”
________________
Messi's dad in Barcelona for crunch talks
________________
Jimmy Byrne. Season ticket holder for 25 years, Second tier, South goal.
“Messi will go. He can't turn back now. He’s not going for the money, but because he’s seen the club fall down around him. He’s seen so many managers and sporting directors come and go, he’s seen the current state of the team and the failure to change it. Half the team who were in that 8-2 defeat in Lisbon played in the Champions League final five years ago.
"I can’t say anything against Messi. He has every right to say that it’s a shambles and he deserves to play in a better team, but I’ve long thought that he won’t be remembered as one of our own. Maybe it’s because he’s not a Catalan, maybe it’s because people fawn if he says two words in Catalan, but his aura comes across as a player and not because of anything he says.
"Messi’s records will stand and likely never be broken, but he should never have been Barça captain. He’s the best player and has been for a long time, but while he could often change the game by himself – even against the best – he couldn’t raise those players around him in those Champions League defeats to Roma, Liverpool or Bayern. His shoulders were slumped, his head was down, his hands were on his hips. That’s not what you want from your captain.
"But how can you fault him over the years? He always turned up against Madrid and in those big Champions League games against Bayern or PSG. Probably the best goal I saw him score was the header against in the Rome final against Manchester United, but he’s created so many memories. I’d go to games season after season thinking that he couldn’t get any better and he would. And even though we knew he was the best, he would still surprise you as he shuffled along the edge of the box with the ball, beating players before scoring.
"I don’t think his performances have diminished much either, but he used to have Xavi, Iniesta and Neymar around him. And when he did, he was still head and shoulders above them.
"Messi’s game has changed a little bit with age. He plays deeper but that’s fine, he’s the best passer in the world and he’s happy to set up others. I don't think he’s obsessed about breaking more records, he’s happy to play a ball over the top to set up a teammate. He can be at the very top for another two or three years if he plays his current role, but he can’t chase full backs and, because Luis Suarez couldn’t either, that’s a flaw in Barca’s pressing game.
"Ronald Koeman has been brought in with a new broom to clear out the old guard. I have little faith in him and Barca fans demand trophies every season. They won't give Koeman two years and they can be fickle – all football fans are.
"I have so little faith because the president Bartomeu is a disaster and has been since day one. He oversaw the abandoning of La Masia and Barca B went from being a feeder team where everyone played the same way to just another team with journeymen pros. Barca started losing more of their best young players, like Eric Garcia to City. He’s a Catalan; he’s a Barca fan. Why is he joining Man City?”
_________________
The 10 best Messi goals for Barca
Scoreline
Arsenal 0 Manchester City 3
- Agüero 18'
- Kompany 58'
- Silva 65'
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Royal Birkdale Golf Course
Location: Southport, Merseyside, England
Established: 1889
Type: Private
Total holes: 18
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
liverpool youngsters
Ki-Jana Hoever
The only one of this squad to have scored for Liverpool, the versatile Dutchman impressed on his debut at Wolves in January. He can play right-back, centre-back or in midfield.
Herbie Kane
Not the most prominent H Kane in English football but a 21-year-old Bristolian who had a fine season on loan at Doncaster last year. He is an all-action midfielder.
Luis Longstaff
Signed from Newcastle but no relation to United’s brothers Sean and Matty, Luis is a winger. An England Under-16 international, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup last season.
Yasser Larouci
An 18-year-old Algerian-born winger who can also play as a left-back, Larouci did well on Liverpool’s pre-season tour until an awful tackle by a Sevilla player injured him.
Adam Lewis
Steven Gerrard is a fan of his fellow Scouser, who has been on Liverpool’s books since he was in the Under-6s, Lewis was a midfielder, but has been converted into a left-back.
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
The biog
Favourite book: You Are the Placebo – Making your mind matter, by Dr Joe Dispenza
Hobby: Running and watching Welsh rugby
Travel destination: Cyprus in the summer
Life goals: To be an aspirational and passionate University educator, enjoy life, be healthy and be the best dad possible.
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
The five pillars of Islam
Tewellah by Nawal Zoghbi is out now.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
RESULT
Copa del Rey, semi-final second leg
Real Madrid 0
Barcelona 3 (Suarez (50', 73' pen), Varane (69' OG)
Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Day 3, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Just three balls remained in an exhausting day for Sri Lanka’s bowlers when they were afforded some belated cheer. Nuwan Pradeep, unrewarded in 15 overs to that point, let slip a seemingly innocuous delivery down the legside. Babar Azam feathered it behind, and Niroshan Dickwella dived to make a fine catch.
Stat of the day - 2.56 Shan Masood and Sami Aslam are the 16th opening partnership Pakistan have had in Tests in the past five years. That turnover at the top of the order – a new pair every 2.56 Test matches on average – is by far the fastest rate among the leading Test sides. Masood and Aslam put on 114 in their first alliance in Abu Dhabi.
The verdict Even by the normal standards of Test cricket in the UAE, this has been slow going. Pakistan’s run-rate of 2.38 per over is the lowest they have managed in a Test match in this country. With just 14 wickets having fallen in three days so far, it is difficult to see 26 dropping to bring about a result over the next two.
Company%20profile
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FIGHT%20CARD
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Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Barack Beach, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Way Of Wisdom, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Woodditton, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Secret Trade, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Mark Of Approval, Antonio Fresu, Mahmood Hussain.
9.25pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Tradesman, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
The%C2%A0specs%20
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 109-3 (10ovs)
Salt 30, Malan 24, Trego 23, Jayasuriya 2-14
Bangla Tigers (9.4ovs)
Fletcher 52, Rossouw 31
Bangla Tigers win by six wickets
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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Shipping%20and%20banking%20
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Results
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
Day 5, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Given the problems Sri Lanka have had in recent times, it was apt the winning catch was taken by Dinesh Chandimal. He is one of seven different captains Sri Lanka have had in just the past two years. He leads in understated fashion, but by example. His century in the first innings of this series set the shock win in motion.
Stat of the day This was the ninth Test Pakistan have lost in their past 11 matches, a run that started when they lost the final match of their three-Test series against West Indies in Sharjah last year. They have not drawn a match in almost two years and 19 matches, since they were held by England at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in 2015.
The verdict Mickey Arthur basically acknowledged he had erred by basing Pakistan’s gameplan around three seam bowlers and asking for pitches with plenty of grass in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Why would Pakistan want to change the method that has treated them so well on these grounds in the past 10 years? It is unlikely Misbah-ul-Haq would have made the same mistake.
The biog
Age: 30
Position: Senior lab superintendent at Emirates Global Aluminium
Education: Bachelor of science in chemical engineering, post graduate degree in light metal reduction technology
Favourite part of job: The challenge, because it is challenging
Favourite quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Gandi
MATCH INFO
AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
John Cena v Triple H
Matches to be announced
WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship, United States Championship and the Cruiserweight Championship are all due to be defended
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
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FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
