Old school. That's what you see, that's what you get. Rock-hewn features that never break into a grin, let alone a smile. Icy blue eyes that just about bore holes in friend and foe alike. A brow that furrows, seemingly emanating intensity.
This is Walter Samuel.
In fact, this has been Walter Samuel since the age of 17, when he left Newell's Old Boys, the club where he grew up, for Boca Juniors and gained his original nickname, "Uncle Sam".
Why Uncle? Because nobody believed he was a teenager. He looked older, like somebody's slightly scary uncle, the one with the facial tic, the one liable to say: "Are you feeling lucky, punk?"
As impenetrable as his steely eyes, the taciturn Samuel developed a fearsome reputation way back in youth football, when he took every goal his team conceded as a personal affront.
Perhaps precisely for this reason - because his fellow defenders and goalkeepers were terrified of him - his youth team once went an entire season conceding just four goals.
Prior to moving into defence, he had been a winger, known for flattening opponents. When his coaches told him he needed to improve his heading, he spent hours on the street heading a tennis ball against a wall, time and again.
The toughness extended off the pitch, too. When his biological father, the man who had abandoned him at the age of two, tried to make contact when Samuel was in his late teens, he refused to acknowledge his existence. And, in fact, he made sure to legally change his last name from Lujan to Samuel, after the man who had raised him, thereby cutting off all ties to his past.
He arrived at Boca as a key member of the Argentina side that had won the Under 17 World Cup and immediately paid dividends. He won two Clausura titles in his first two full seasons and, in his third, guided them to the Copa Libertadores.
By that point, Roma had signed him for ?20million (Dh93m), although they let him stay in Argentina for another season.
In his first year with Fabio Capello's Giallorossi, they won a historic league title and he quickly became the bedrock of the defence. He would spend four seasons in the Eternal City, establishing himself as a cult hero. Intensity is the common currency of fans everywhere and Samuel seemed to play as if every moment on the pitch might be his last.
By this stage, he was being hailed by many as the best defender in the world. Which is why Real Madrid shelled out ?25m for his services. The end of the "Galactico Era" was nigh at the Bernabeu; people still believed a "quick fix" could resolve everything.
Except defending, even if your name is Walter Samuel, is a team game. And Real's solution seemed to be not to adjust their side one bit, rather they continued to stream forward and expected Samuel to hold everything together on his own at the back.
It worked for a few months, but then, like the rest of the side, Samuel struggled. He became a convenient scapegoat - heck, it is not as if the local press were going to blame Zinedine Zidane, were they? By the end of the season he was put up for sale.
When Inter Milan offered ?16m, Real just about bit their hand off. What followed was a string of titles and trophies, though to Samuel, by his own admission, they did not mean much. In 2005-06 Inter were awarded the Italian title, following the Calciopoli scandal which stripped Juventus of the scudetto.
Injuries - a cruciate ligament tear and an ankle fracture - severely limited him over the next three seasons, to the point that he missed more than half of Inter's league starts in each campaign.
This summer, having turned 32, there were some suggestions that Jose Mourinho, the Inter coach, might let him go. Instead, the Portuguese manager took him aside on the first day of their training camp and, as he later revealed to Corriere della Sera, told him: "I'm going to wait as long as it takes for you to find your fitness. But once you're ready, I will ride you and you will carry us all the way. That's how much I believe in you."
True to his word, Mourinho stuck Samuel into the starting line-up and, except for the odd niggle, he has remained there all season.
He has repaid the faith by rediscovering his form from the turn of the millennium. Together with Lucio, he formed arguably the best defensive partnership in the Champions League. Domestically, Inter won the double. And now only Bayern Munich stand between them and a historic treble.
"I did not really feel as if the other titles were mine," he recently told Sky Italia television. "This year is different. This year I have made my contribution. This is my team. Everything is magnified, everything simply tastes better."
You would not argue with that. In fact, you would not argue with anything he says. Because if you did, he might just burn you with those eyes. Or you might find yourself helpless as "The Wall" closes in.
Arjen Robben, Ivica Olic, Thomas Muller ? it is time to be afraid. To be very afraid.
sports@thenational.ae
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%204.4-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20653hp%20at%205%2C400rpm%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20800Nm%20at%201%2C600-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3ETransmission%3A%208-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E0-100kph%20in%204.3sec%0D%3Cbr%3ETop%20speed%20250kph%0D%3Cbr%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20NA%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Q2%202023%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh750%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
RESULTS
Men
1 Marius Kipserem (KEN) 2:04:04
2 Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 2:04:16
3 Dejene Debela Gonfra (ETH) 2:07:06
4 Thomas Rono (KEN) 2:07:12
5 Stanley Biwott (KEN) 2:09:18
Women
1 Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:16
2 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:54
3 Gelete Burka (ETH) 2:24:07
4 Chaltu Tafa (ETH) 2:25:09
5 Caroline Kilel (KEN) 2:29:14
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
The specs: 2018 Jaguar F-Type Convertible
Price, base / as tested: Dh283,080 / Dh318,465
Engine: 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 295hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.2L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos
Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km
6.30pm Meydan Classic Trial US$100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
Winner Bella Fever, Dane O’Neill (jockey), Mike de Kock (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Woven, Harry Bentley, David Simcock.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner Fore Left, William Buick, Doug O’Neill.
8.15pm Dubai Sprint Listed Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Rusumaat, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group Two $450,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Art Du Val, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
10pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Beyond Reason, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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