Al Ain may be having their worst season in three years, but that does not seem to have dimmed Omar Abdulrahman’s reputation as the UAE playmaker has been linked with another high-profile European club – this time Liverpool.
A report in the English newspaper The Daily Star claims manager Brendan Rodgers is planning to make a move. Abdulrahman, who led Al Ain to back-to-back UAE titles in 2011/12 and last term, caught the attention of Europe’s top clubs with his performances for the UAE at the 2012 London Olympics. Shortly after, Abdulrahman went on a week-long trial at Manchester City, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed.
Last summer he was the subject of relentless speculation, with Spanish side Valencia linked, and Al Ain turning down an offer from Arsenal to take Abdulrahman, 22, on trial.
Now Liverpool – who are after a wide player after missing out on Mohamed Salah and Yevhen Konoplyanka – are reportedly ready to pay £5 million (Dh30.1m) to bring him to Anfield, though Al Ain have yet to hear from the English club.
“At this moment it is news for us too,” an Al Ain official said last night. “We really do not know if there is any truth behind this story. There wasn’t even a hint that Omar was in the Liverpool radar. We believe it is just speculation as we believe it at this moment.”
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Super 30
Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5
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.
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
