Zlatan Ibrahimovic to miss Sweden friendly as reports persist over move to Man United



Stockholm // Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will sit out Sweden’s friendly against Slovenia in order to rest a sore calf, coach Erik Hamren said Sunday.

“We’ll save it until the Wales match” on June 5, Hamren told Swedish news agency TT ahead of Monday’s match against Slovenia in Malmo.

“It’s the calf he’s had problems with toward the end at PSG.”

• Related: Zlatan Ibrahimovic hints at reunion with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United

• Read also: Zlatan Ibrahimovic lifts French Cup in PSG swansong: 'I'm very happy to win my final match with a fantastic team'

All eyes have been on the striker, 34, lately pending an announcement on the next step in his career.

Having left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this season, he has refused to comment on speculation he is set to join Manchester United, where Jose Mourinho was on Friday named the new manager.

Ibrahimovic said last week he knew where he would be playing football next season, but kept mum on the details.

“Yes, I have made my choice,” Ibrahimovic told a news conference at a training camp near Stockholm for the Swedish national team ahead of Euro 2016.

He said he had decided “long ago” but dodged all questions about whether that team was Manchester United.

However, when asked a direct question about whether he has received an offer from United, Ibrahimovic’s hesitancy in answering spoke volumes.

He drummed his fingers on the table, smiled and eventually replied: “Let’s see what happens.”

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THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

if you go

The flights

Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes

The package

Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January

The info

Visit www.gokorea.co.uk

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: CVT auto

Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km

On sale: now

Price: from Dh195,000 

Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE

Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:

• Buy second hand stuff

 They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.

• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres

 Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.

• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.

Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.

• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home

Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.

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Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Business Insights
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  • US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs

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