:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/NZVVB35QNTNORAXI5CZEL34LRY.jpg)
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi chuckled with his hands on his face when the chairman of Manchester City made a tongue-in-cheek joke about the club's fortunes.
He was joined in a chorus of laughter from young Emiratis at the annual Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Majlis for Future Generations event in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Sheikh Mohamed was in the audience as Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive and managing director of Mubadala Investment Company, was interviewed on stage by TV presenter Hamed Al Harthi.
“Is bu Khaled (Sheikh Mohamed) pleased with Man City?” Mr Al Harthi asked in a tongue-in-cheek fashion.
“I hope bu Khaled is pleased with everything,” Mr Mubarak replied with mock nervousness while glancing at Sheikh Mohamed.
To this, the Crown Prince laughs heartily and covers his face. The endearing video spread widely on social media on Wednesday.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed also spoke at the event and has called on UAE youngsters to help create the country's "present and future".
Manchester City won a spectacular Premier League victory last season after unprecedented financial investment by its Emirati owners.
At the time, manager Pep Guardiola's squad was the most expensive in Europe.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/3CR6FJNMIYF3RNTQRH6LQ3SUY4.jpg)
The club chairman was also asked about the ups and downs on the club's journey to success, and the criticisms along the way.
Mr Al Mubarak said: “It has been 10 years and in spite of all the criticism we received and still receive, Manchester City has become the most successful club in Britain.
"And it was because of the vision of Sheikh Mansour’s vision. It has made us proud."
He also said the "most beautiful" sporting moment for him was when the UAE won the Gulf Cup in 2013.
And he said the deal he most regretted not making was: “Honestly, [Lionel] Messi.”
________________
Read more: