Gylfi Sigurdsson says he spurned the chance to link up with former manager Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool because he believes Tottenham are a club that is going places
The Iceland midfielder has signed a reported five-year deal at White Hart Lane following his impressive loan spell at Swansea last season.
He had also been linked with a permanent move to the Welsh side after they agreed a club record £6.8m (Dh39m) with Hoffenheim.
But Sigurdsson opted to move to White Hart Lane after a meeting with the Spurs' hierarchy, who persuaded him the north London club are destined for great things.
"I enjoyed playing under Brendan and I am grateful for everything he has done for me, but after careful consideration I liked Spurs best," he said.
"The team has world-class players in their ranks and they play good football, which I like.
"I was impressed with the club's plans for next season and the coming years.
The midfielder has already spoken to Andre Villas-Boas, who was named as Harry Redknapp's replacement, and is looking forward to working under the Portuguese.
"I like him and the ideas he has," Sigurdsson added.
Sigurdsson's arrival has raised questions about the future of Luka Modric.
The Spurs playmaker, who last year was the subject of a £40 million bid from Chelsea, has made it clear he wants to leave White Hart Lane, and Sigurdsson is being viewed by some as a like-for-like replacement.
---
Italian playmaker Giuseppe Mascara looks set to move to the Pro League after confirming he is to link up with Al Nasr.
The 32-year-old had previously undergone a medical with the club, but had not signed a deal.
Coach Walter Zenga had been looking for new foreign faces after Luca Toni's abortive spell at the Dubai club, with Fabrizio Miccoli also in talks over a move to Al Nasr.
But Mascara's deal now looks to have been concluded, with the player telling a Napoli radio station he was leaving Novara to move to the Pro League.
“I had wanted to stay with Novara, but the club told me that if there was an important offer then I could evaluate it and eventually the one from Al Nasr seemed like the best possible," he said.
“In Dubai there are many great characters. Diego Maradona? To meet him would be the dream of my life.”
Juventus have completed the signing of former Brazil defender Lucio on a free transfer from Inter Milan, beating off interest from Fenerbahce and Malaga for the veteran.
The 34-year-old World Cup winner penned a two-year contract with the Serie A champions today after completing a medical.
"The Brazilian defender joins the Bianconeri on a free transfer and has signed a two-year contract, keeping him with the club until 30 June 2014.," a statement on Juve's official website read.
Lucio had established himself as one of the best defenders in Italy since his arrival at San Siro, from Bayern Munich, in 2009.
He immediately helped Inter, then under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho, to the scudetto and Champions League titles in his first season.
---
Scottish champions Celtic have confirmed the signing of on-loan goalkeeper Fraser Forster to a permanent deal.
The 24-year-old had spent the last two seasons on loan at Parkhead from Newcastle United.
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Thabet Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Blue Diamond, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Shoja’A Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Heros De Lagarde, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
The%20US%20Congress%20explained
%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20one%20of%20three%20branches%20of%20the%20US%20government%2C%20and%20the%20one%20that%20creates%20the%20nation's%20federal%20laws%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20divided%20into%20two%20chambers%3A%20The%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%C2%A0The%20House%20is%20made%20up%20of%20435%20members%20based%20on%20a%20state's%20population.%20House%20members%20are%20up%20for%20election%20every%20two%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20bill%20must%20be%20approved%20by%20both%20the%20House%20and%20Senate%20before%20it%20goes%20to%20the%20president's%20desk%20for%20signature%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%20218%20seats%20to%20be%20in%20control%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20The%20Senate%20is%20comprised%20of%20100%20members%2C%20with%20each%20state%20receiving%20two%20senators.%20Senate%20members%20serve%20six-year%20terms%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%2051%20seats%20to%20control%20the%20Senate.%20In%20the%20case%20of%20a%2050-50%20tie%2C%20the%20party%20of%20the%20president%20controls%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Mobile phone packages comparison
