Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said Manchester City will continue to strengthen the squad this summer, while highlighting the signing of "truly phenomenal" Erling Haaland as a sign of the club's ambition.
The English champions, who earlier this month clinched a fourth Premier League title in five seasons, have agreed a deal in principle with Borussia Dortmund for Haaland, one of the most sought-after players in the game. The Norwegian striker, 21, will join in July after City activated a €60 million ($64.7m) release clause in his contract.
Also, Argentine striker Julian Alvarez will join the squad following the end of his loan spell at River Plate.
In an interview with Manchester City's website released on Monday, Al Mubarak said: “I can confirm that there will be more players coming in. We are looking to strengthen the team in the areas that we need strengthening. As you know, every season some players leave, and then we have to continuously refresh the team.
“Again, we will always look at improving and strengthening. I think we’ve made two very important additions already, but I anticipate we’ll be doing a couple more.
“We’ll try to go as fast as we can, but you know how the market goes. It’s not always entirely in our control.”
City will be seeking to build on a campaign in which they sealed the Premier League title on the season’s final day, when their 3-2 comeback win against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium carried the side to 93 points, one ahead of Liverpool. The top-flight crown represented the ninth major trophy of manager Pep Guardiola’s tenure.
That said, City’s title win was achieved with a group of only 20 senior players, supplemented by a number of youngsters from the club’s academy.
With another bid next season for a first Uefa Champions League trophy – City were eliminated from this year’s competition at the semi-final stage – and the FA Cup and League Cup to contest, too, Al Mubarak said the club would only recruit players they believe will augment the first-team squad.
“With Pep and with this team it’s not just about filling a position,” Al Mubarak said. “We have reached a level of quality, a standard in which we cannot and will not compromise on quality.
“If we find the right player for that particular position, we will get that player and, if not, Pep has shown us he will find solutions within the quality of the group we have and within the quality of the academy.
“We’re in a different position to the one we were in many years ago. We have so much talent available within the squad and the academy that when we need something, it’s very specific and it's very deliberate. We are in a different paradigm from that perspective.”
The acquisition of Haaland, still subject to personal terms being finalised, would represent one such deal. The hugely talented frontman was linked with a number of the most prominent clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid and Barcelona, after scoring 86 goals in 89 matches for Dortmund since joining from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020.
Manchester City season ratings
Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, played for City between 2000 and 2003.
Al Mubarak said: “Haaland, from his early days in Norway and then moving on to Dortmund, has been on our radar for at least four or five years.
“We’ve been following his progression over the years and seen his transition from a very talented, high-quality, high-potential young player to one of the most, if not the most, exciting strikers in the world. He is a very, very unique, incredibly talented striker that I think the whole world has been looking at.
“I would say every big team in the world wanted [him] to join and we’re absolutely delighted that Haaland chose to join Manchester City. I think it’s a testament to all the great work that’s been happening at this club.
“It’s a testament to the quality of this team and it’s a testament to Haaland not just being a great player, but I think a very smart player that saw the potential of what he can do and how he can develop further professionally, being part of this team, being coached by Pep Guardiola and with the infrastructure that we have.
“The physical infrastructure, the training facilities, the stadium, and then, more importantly than all of that, the fans. I think he has a connection to the fans. I think for us, it’s a super decision. We are getting truly, I think, a phenomenal player that will give us great memories.”
In signing both Haaland and Alverez – the 22-year-old, who last week struck six goals for River Plate in the 8-1 Copa Libertadores victory over Allianz Lima, signed a five-and-a-half-year deal with City in January – provides Guardiola with plenty in attack. It should go a significant way to compensate for the departure last year of all-time leading scorer Sergio Aguero.
“I think we can look back with a high level of confidence in the area we wanted to strengthen the most, which is that striker position,” Al Mubarak said. “We have, in Haaland, arguably the best No 9 in the world at the right age.
“In Haaland we have invested in that striker for the future, and in Alvarez I think we’ve found one of the most talented young strikers in South America.”
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
GOODBYE%20JULIA
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Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
more from Janine di Giovanni
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
SPECS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff
By Sean Penn
Simon & Schuster
Dubai Rugby Sevens, December 5 -7
World Sevens Series Pools
A – Fiji, France, Argentina, Japan
B – United States, Australia, Scotland, Ireland
C – New Zealand, Samoa, Canada, Wales
D – South Africa, England, Spain, Kenya
