Transfer talk: AC Milan 'rule themselves out' of Fabregas race


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AC Milan have ruled themselves out of the race to sign the Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, with the Spain international set to join Barcelona instead.

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The Italian champions had expressed an interest in acquiring the 24-year-old's services this summer, but reports in Spain claim that Barca are close to securing the midfielder's signature after increasing their initial offer to £35 million (Dh205.3m)

"Fabregas will not join us because he will join a different club," Adriano Galliani, the AC Milan vice-president, told the club's official website.

Meanwhile, the new West Ham manager, Sam Alladyce has told Stoke City to increase their offer if they want to sign the England striker Carlton Cole.

The Potters are reported to have made an opening bid of £3m, plus various extra clauses, for the 27-year-old.

Allardyce accepts the Hammers have to look at balancing the books after their relegation from the Premier League last season but stressed players would not be allowed to leave cheaply.

"I believe at this stage that the offer is not good enough. It is not to the club's valuation," the West Ham boss told The Sentinel. "We are keen to keep our key players. However, we have lost our Premier League status and our financial position has to be addressed.

"A part of that might be players are sold back to the Premier League, but only so long as that is right for our club."

Demy de Zeeuw, the Ajax midfielder, claims he is set for a move to Spartak Moscow.

The 28-year-old has commented on his Twitter account that he will undergo a medical with the Russian club before signing a three-year contract.

De Zeeuw, who featured in 27 games for the Amsterdam club as they secured the 2010/11 Eredivisie title, said: "In the next few days I will have a medical examination and if that goes well I'm leaving Ajax for three years at Spartak Moscow.

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
The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

The Bio

Favourite Emirati dish: I have so many because it has a lot of herbs and vegetables. Harees  (oats with chicken) is one of them

Favourite place to go to: Dubai Mall because it has lots of sports shops.

Her motivation: My performance because I know that whatever I do, if I put the effort in, I’ll get results

During her free time: I like to drink coffee - a latte no sugar and no flavours. I do not like cold drinks

Pet peeve: That with every meal they give you a fries and Pepsi. That is so unhealthy

Advice to anyone who wants to be an ironman: Go for the goal. If you are consistent, you will get there. With the first one, it might not be what they want but they should start and just do it

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Saturday
Liverpool v Manchester United - 3.30pm
Burnley v West Ham United - 6pm
Crystal Palace v Chelsea - 6pm
Manchester City v Stoke City - 6pm
Swansea City v Huddersfield Town - 6pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth - 6pm
Watford v Arsenal - 8.30pm

Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton - 4.30pm
Southampton v Newcastle United - 7pm

Monday
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion - 11pm

Persuasion
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile

Name: Steppi

Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic

Launched: February 2020

Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year

Employees: Five

Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai

Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings

Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year

Abu Dhabi racecard

5pm: Maiden (Purebred Arabians); Dh80,000; 1,400m.
5.30pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,00; 1,400m.
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA); Group 3; Dh500,000; 1,600m.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (Thoroughbred); Listed; Dh380,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA); Dh70,000; 1,400m.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

Graduated from the American University of Sharjah

She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters

Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks

Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Result

Crystal Palace 0 Manchester City 2

Man City: Jesus (39), David Silva (41)