The Premier League kicks off this weekend and all eyes will be on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City after a difficult 2024/25 campaign. It has been a summer of change at the Etihad Stadium and here we look ahead to a season in which City will be determined to bounce back.
Prospects
Saturday evening’s friendly against Italian Serie B side Palermo hinted that Manchester City are back on track on the eve of the new season.
The club grabbed a 3-0 victory in Sicily against their City Football Group stablemate, with John Stones starting after months out with injury and summer signing Tijjani Reijnders scoring twice as a second-half substitute. Goalkeeper James Trafford, another recent recruit, played the first half and looked comfortable for the most part.
The clean sheet will be welcome and the age profile of the starting XI suggests City’s rapid rebuild in 2025 is nearly complete, but there are still some defensive gremlins to purge after their title challenge unravelled last winter.
City also have some injury worries going into the new season and a cluster of players apparently set to leave what is a large first-team squad by recent standards.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is out for now and Mateo Kovacic will be sidelined for a couple of months with an Achilles injury, leaving Nico Gonzalez as the only conventional defensive midfielder in the squad. Phil Foden is not expected to be fit for the start of the season, while neither Josko Gvardiol nor Claudio Echeverri travelled last weekend.
Jack Grealish has secured a loan deal at Everton, James McAtee looks likely to leave for Nottingham Forest, while Stefan Ortega and Kalvin Phillips may well depart, too. Savinho has been the subject of reported interest from Spurs.
Guardiola’s side will be a fun watch this season, but City will not be many people’s favourites to reclaim their crown, despite winning the Premier League title in six of the last eight years. Only time will tell whether they can get back to their best after the multiple setbacks of last term or if this will be a year of transition.
Last five finishes
- 2024/25: 3rd
- 2023/24: 1st
- 2022/23: 1st
- 2021/22: 1st
- 2020/21: 1st
First five fixtures
- August 16: Wolves (A)
- August 23: Tottenham (H)
- August 31: Brighton (A)
- September 14: Manchester United (H)
- September 21: Arsenal (A)
The manager
Pep Guardiola: Committed himself to the club until 2027 last autumn and refreshed his coaching staff in the close season, bringing in Kolo Toure and Pepijn Lijnders.
In an intriguing interview with GQ earlier this month, Guardiola said that last season’s downturn was a “healthy process for the club, because success can confuse you”, adding that “you can’t win every time”. He also made the point that the club finished third last term, which represented a drop off from the heights of previous years, but not as deep a dip as some have suggested.
Guardiola sounds philosophical and realistic on the eve of the new campaign. He is also one of the greatest innovators and problem-solvers the sport has ever known. With a squad comprehensively rebuilt in two transfer windows, he may feel his side is on the cusp of a return to the summit.
Star signing
Rayan Cherki: All the summer intake look capable of excelling, including Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves, Rayan Cherki from Lyon, Reijnders from AC Milan and Trafford from Burnley. Midfielder Sverre Nypan and goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli also arrived from Rosenborg and Chelsea respectively, but neither is expected to feature much.
Anyone who saw Cherki’s electric cameo in France’s 5-4 defeat by Spain at the Nations League finals this summer, will be aware of his capabilities. He made his international debut after a stellar season at Lyon, where he finished as top assist provider in both Ligue 1 and the Europa League.
City have to mitigate against the absence of Kevin De Bruyne this season after his departure to Serie A. Cherki, who turns 22 this month, is an incredibly gifted player who could secure the high volume of assists and goals the Belgian provided for a decade.
Key player
Rodri: The Ballon d’Or winner’s latest setback, a groin injury during City’s Club World Cup exit to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, is a reminder of how important Rodri has been to the side’s trophy-laden recent past and how much he is missed when unavailable.
He played 56 times for the club in the treble-winning 2022/23 season and 50 times the following term as well as in major tournaments for Spain. But an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in last September’s dramatic home draw against Arsenal ruled him out until the final moments of the 2024/25 campaign.
City looked meek and vulnerable at times in his absence, particularly during the period from November to March. If Rodri can successfully recover from injury and return to anything close to his prior form, City could be unstoppable this season.
Hot prospect
Oscar Bobb: A fractured leg in last year’s preseason meant Bobb barely featured last term, a situation compounded by a secondary injury in April. Bobb will be familiar to many for his stunning piece of footwork in a De Bruyne-assisted winner away at Newcastle in City’s last title-winning season. He was expected to feature far more heavily last term before injury tore those plans apart.
Bobb scored against Al Ain in the summer’s Club World Cup and put in a good performance in Palermo this month, suggesting he may be on the cusp of a strong comeback at City.
Race card
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m
7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m
9.50pm: Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m
9.25pm: Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 5
Keita 1', Mane 23', 66', Salah 45' 1, 83'
Huddersfield 0
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Ferrari
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Empty Words
By Mario Levrero
(Coffee House Press)
RESULTS
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Hugo Lebouc (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Karaginsky, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Sadeedd, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.
3pm Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Blue Sovereign, Clement Lecoeuvre, Erwan Charpy.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Bladesmith, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
FA CUP FINAL
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
Other hobbies: football
Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
MATCH SCHEDULE
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tuesday, April 24 (10.45pm)
Liverpool v Roma
Wednesday, April 25
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (10.45pm)
Europa League semi-final, first leg
Thursday, April 26
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (11.05pm)
Marseille v Salzburg (11.05pm)
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
Series info
Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.
INFO
Everton 0
Arsenal 0
Man of the Match: Djibril Sidibe (Everton)
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Match info:
Wolves 1
Boly (57')
Manchester City 1
Laporte (69')
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
