• GOALKEEPER: Cardiff City's Neil Etheridge, centre, is the easy choice for goalkeeper. He's the only stopper who has visited the farm since February. All images @sb_belhasa via Instagram
    GOALKEEPER: Cardiff City's Neil Etheridge, centre, is the easy choice for goalkeeper. He's the only stopper who has visited the farm since February. All images @sb_belhasa via Instagram
  • RIGHT-BACK: The team runs in to its first problem with Manchester City's John Stones having to fill in at right-back.
    RIGHT-BACK: The team runs in to its first problem with Manchester City's John Stones having to fill in at right-back.
  • CENTRE-BACK: Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is another easy choice to pencil in to the starting XI. The Dutchman recharged his batteries in Dubai in the middle of May ahead of the Champions League final on June 1.
    CENTRE-BACK: Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is another easy choice to pencil in to the starting XI. The Dutchman recharged his batteries in Dubai in the middle of May ahead of the Champions League final on June 1.
  • CENTRE-BACK: Chelsea's David Luiz visited the Belhasa farm in June. He is a sensible choice for Van Dijk's partner at the back. The other option was Newcastle's Florian Lejeune and a retired Eric Abidal.
    CENTRE-BACK: Chelsea's David Luiz visited the Belhasa farm in June. He is a sensible choice for Van Dijk's partner at the back. The other option was Newcastle's Florian Lejeune and a retired Eric Abidal.
  • LEFT-BACK: Patrice Evra. Another tricky position to fill with the Frenchman's status over retirement a mystery.
    LEFT-BACK: Patrice Evra. Another tricky position to fill with the Frenchman's status over retirement a mystery.
  • CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic - a recent visitor to the farm - slots into the engine room of the team.
    CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic - a recent visitor to the farm - slots into the engine room of the team.
  • CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum will be alongside Rakitic. There has been many midfielders who have had a tour of the farm, including Danny Drinkwater, Denis Suarez, Luiz Gustavo, Scott McTominay and Mohamed Dahoud.
    CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum will be alongside Rakitic. There has been many midfielders who have had a tour of the farm, including Danny Drinkwater, Denis Suarez, Luiz Gustavo, Scott McTominay and Mohamed Dahoud.
  • LEFT WING: Southampton's Sofiane Boufal. The Moroccan winger edges out Everton's Yannick Bolasie and Marseille's Maxi Lopez on the left.
    LEFT WING: Southampton's Sofiane Boufal. The Moroccan winger edges out Everton's Yannick Bolasie and Marseille's Maxi Lopez on the left.
  • RIGHT WING: Manchester United's Jesse Lingard. The England international could easily fit a different formation at the sharp end of a diamond, but he is needed on the right - edging out an ageing Franck Ribery.
    RIGHT WING: Manchester United's Jesse Lingard. The England international could easily fit a different formation at the sharp end of a diamond, but he is needed on the right - edging out an ageing Franck Ribery.
  • STRIKER: Lille's Yassine Benzia. There's been a surprising lack of strikers at the farm over the summer, so by default, the Algerian forward who has been out on loan at Fenerbache, fits the bill.
    STRIKER: Lille's Yassine Benzia. There's been a surprising lack of strikers at the farm over the summer, so by default, the Algerian forward who has been out on loan at Fenerbache, fits the bill.
  • STRIKER: Barcelona's Lionel Messi. But you could put anyone alongside Messi, who is the highest profile visitor to the businessman's farm to date. In fact, he's been twice.
    STRIKER: Barcelona's Lionel Messi. But you could put anyone alongside Messi, who is the highest profile visitor to the businessman's farm to date. In fact, he's been twice.

Football

The Belhasa Farm XI: Lionel Messi and other holidaying footballers check into Dubai businessman's zoo

We pick a starting XI from all the professional footballers who have checked in at the zoo at Emirati businessman's home this summer

Stephen Nelmes

June 12, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

A professional footballer's Dubai bucket list doesn't differ too much from your average holidaymaker.

Shopping in Dubai Mall. Check. A beach selfie in front of the Burj Al Arab. Check. Dune bashing on quad bikes in the desert. Check. Even tucking into a steak at Salt Bae's restaurant is within the planning power of a mere mortal.

However, one item on the itinerary of your average Premier League player is an exclusive invite to a prominent Emirati businessman's farm.

From retired greats such as Edgar Davids, to Neymar to Danny Drinkwater, dozens of players have had their snap taken at Saif Belhasa's pad over the past few years, feeding giraffes or monkeying around with the businessman's lemurs.

So what does one do with this information? That's right; pick a starting XI using a 4-4-2 formation. Swipe left/right on the gallery above to see who we have picked.

Take our poll below for where you think this team would have finished in the Premier League last season:

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