Nathan Ake has become a regular starter for Manchester City this season. PA
Nathan Ake has become a regular starter for Manchester City this season. PA
Nathan Ake has become a regular starter for Manchester City this season. PA
Nathan Ake has become a regular starter for Manchester City this season. PA

Sport

Football

Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis poised to sign new long-term contracts at Manchester City

Dutch defender to be rewarded for a fine season, while highly-rated teenager will commit future to boyhood club

Chris Bailey

May 01, 2023

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Nathan Ake is set to sign a new long-term contract with Manchester City amid the Dutch defender's best and most productive season at the club.

Ake, 28, spent his first two years at City very much as a squad player, making 10 and 14 Premier League starts in the previous two seasons, but has emerged as a key player this campaign with 36 appearances in all competitions.

The Netherlands international, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, has been a consistent and reliable performer in the City defence, earning the praise and trust of fans and his manager Pep Guardiola.

And his growing importance to the squad it will lead to the offer of a fresh deal, keeping him at City during his peak years and into his thirties.

While Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jack Grealish have taken the limelight as Premier League-leaders City chase the treble, Ake's contribution to the team has not gone unnoticed, particularly inside the club.

“All Nathan’s actions with the ball are clever,” Guardiola said. “When he hasn’t played there was never any complaints, just a desire to get better and a desire to learn what the team needs. He is a generous player with great commitment to the club.”

Ake has admitted that he has taken time to attune to his manager’s playbook but knows he is there now, on the same page and enjoying every minute of the synchronicity.

Fulham 1 Man City 2: Player ratings

FULHAM PLAYER RATINGS: Bernd Leno - 7. Made a splendid save to tip Grealish’s effort onto the crossbar in the 27th minute. Showed excellent reflex to push Haaland’s effort wide just after the restart. Reuters
FULHAM PLAYER RATINGS: Bernd Leno - 7. Made a splendid save to tip Grealish’s effort onto the crossbar in the 27th minute. Showed excellent reflex to push Haaland’s effort wide just after the restart. Reuters
Kenny Tete - 6 Got pulled into the middle too often in the first half, which afforded Grealish enough space and time to repeatedly trouble Leno or pick out passes. Stopped Haaland with a well-timed sliding challenge in the second half. Getty
Kenny Tete - 6 Got pulled into the middle too often in the first half, which afforded Grealish enough space and time to repeatedly trouble Leno or pick out passes. Stopped Haaland with a well-timed sliding challenge in the second half. Getty
Tosin Adarabioyo - 4. Afforded Haaland too much space which allowed him to turn and set up Grealish in the 13th minute. Once again got too comfortable with backing off and gave Alvarez enough time and space on the ball to pick out the top corner. AFP
Tosin Adarabioyo - 4. Afforded Haaland too much space which allowed him to turn and set up Grealish in the 13th minute. Once again got too comfortable with backing off and gave Alvarez enough time and space on the ball to pick out the top corner. AFP
Tim Ream - 3. Brought down Alvarez with a clumsy challenge to gift City an early penalty. Had to be rescued by Palhinha after he allowed Alvarez to steal the ball. Left the pitch early with a shoulder injury. Getty
Tim Ream - 3. Brought down Alvarez with a clumsy challenge to gift City an early penalty. Had to be rescued by Palhinha after he allowed Alvarez to steal the ball. Left the pitch early with a shoulder injury. Getty
Antonee Robinson - 5. Displayed excellent pace to catch up with Mahrez and stop him from running through on goal in the 11th minute. Got caught on the ball by Mahrez which allowed him to set up Grealish for an effort at goal in the 33rd minute. Getty
Antonee Robinson - 5. Displayed excellent pace to catch up with Mahrez and stop him from running through on goal in the 11th minute. Got caught on the ball by Mahrez which allowed him to set up Grealish for an effort at goal in the 33rd minute. Getty
Harrison Reed - 6 Worked hard in the middle of the pitch next to Palhinha. Got back well to make interceptions in the second half. Reuters
Harrison Reed - 6 Worked hard in the middle of the pitch next to Palhinha. Got back well to make interceptions in the second half. Reuters
Joao Palhinha - 6. Tracked back well to disposes Alvarez after Ream’s gaffe and stop City from scoring a second. Crucial to Fulham’s attacking play as he repeatedly played long passes into the path of Vinicius upfront. AFP
Joao Palhinha - 6. Tracked back well to disposes Alvarez after Ream’s gaffe and stop City from scoring a second. Crucial to Fulham’s attacking play as he repeatedly played long passes into the path of Vinicius upfront. AFP
Andreas Periera - 6. Began the move that led to Fulham’s equaliser with a lofted pass into the penalty area. Forced off early with what looked like a knee injury. PA
Andreas Periera - 6. Began the move that led to Fulham’s equaliser with a lofted pass into the penalty area. Forced off early with what looked like a knee injury. PA
Harry Wilson - 6. Displayed great awareness to find the on-rushing Vinicius with a header to set up Fulham's equaliser in the 15th minute. Lost possession that led to City's second goal. AP
Harry Wilson - 6. Displayed great awareness to find the on-rushing Vinicius with a header to set up Fulham's equaliser in the 15th minute. Lost possession that led to City's second goal. AP
Bobby Decordova-Reid - 4. Endured a frustrating outing against the pacy Walker on the right side of City’s defence. His most notable contribution was an effort that went wide in the 75th minute. EPA
Bobby Decordova-Reid - 4. Endured a frustrating outing against the pacy Walker on the right side of City’s defence. His most notable contribution was an effort that went wide in the 75th minute. EPA
Carlos Vinicius - 7 Drew Fulham level with a smart left-footed finish into the bottom corner which left Ederson rooted to the spot. His hold-up play was crucial to bringing his teammates into the game in the first half. EPA
Carlos Vinicius - 7 Drew Fulham level with a smart left-footed finish into the bottom corner which left Ederson rooted to the spot. His hold-up play was crucial to bringing his teammates into the game in the first half. EPA
SUBS: Issa Diop (Ream 22') - 6. Alert to stop Grealish’s lofted pass from finding Haaland in the 61st minute. Looked the more assured defender among Fulham’s three centre-backs tasked with stopping Haaland. AFP
SUBS: Issa Diop (Ream 22') - 6. Alert to stop Grealish’s lofted pass from finding Haaland in the 61st minute. Looked the more assured defender among Fulham’s three centre-backs tasked with stopping Haaland. AFP
Tom Cairney (Pereira 59') - 6. Picked up the captain’s armband after coming on and added something different to Fulham’s midfield. His entrance brought about a period of uncertainty for Manchester City during which Fulham could have notched an equaliser. Getty
Tom Cairney (Pereira 59') - 6. Picked up the captain’s armband after coming on and added something different to Fulham’s midfield. His entrance brought about a period of uncertainty for Manchester City during which Fulham could have notched an equaliser. Getty
Dan James (Reid 77') - N/A. Made a couple of runs after coming on but never looked capable of getting past Akanji at left-back. PA
Dan James (Reid 77') - N/A. Made a couple of runs after coming on but never looked capable of getting past Akanji at left-back. PA
Sasa Lukic (Reed 77') - N/A. Worked hard after coming on and added extra bite to Fulham’s midfield. AFP
Sasa Lukic (Reed 77') - N/A. Worked hard after coming on and added extra bite to Fulham’s midfield. AFP
Manor Solomon (Wilson 77') - N/A. His inability to bring the ball under control when he was found with a simple pass in the 85th minute encapsulated his performance. Getty
Manor Solomon (Wilson 77') - N/A. His inability to bring the ball under control when he was found with a simple pass in the 85th minute encapsulated his performance. Getty
MANCHESTER CITY PLAYER RATINGS: Ederson - 6. Made a hash of his clearance but recovered well to stop Vinicius from taking a shot at his open goal in the 64th minute. Only had one save to make all through the game. Getty
MANCHESTER CITY PLAYER RATINGS: Ederson - 6. Made a hash of his clearance but recovered well to stop Vinicius from taking a shot at his open goal in the 64th minute. Only had one save to make all through the game. Getty
Kyle Walker - 7. Frustrated Reed on the right-hand side of defence and got forward well. Also got the better of Solomon in the second half. Getty
Kyle Walker - 7. Frustrated Reed on the right-hand side of defence and got forward well. Also got the better of Solomon in the second half. Getty
Ruben Dias - 5. Should have been much tighter to Vinicius to deny him space to have a crack at goal. Involved in a mix-up with Ederson in the 64th minute that almost to Vinicius scoring a second. Getty
Ruben Dias - 5. Should have been much tighter to Vinicius to deny him space to have a crack at goal. Involved in a mix-up with Ederson in the 64th minute that almost to Vinicius scoring a second. Getty
Manuel Akanji - 7. Denied Tete from testing Ederson with a headed clearance on the stroke of half-time. Struggled to sort out his feet when he was found at the back post by a reverse header from Haaland in the second half. Getty
Manuel Akanji - 7. Denied Tete from testing Ederson with a headed clearance on the stroke of half-time. Struggled to sort out his feet when he was found at the back post by a reverse header from Haaland in the second half. Getty
John Stones - 6 Had a quiet performance in his new hybrid role. Kept things simple and didn't put a foot wrong all through the game. Getty
John Stones - 6 Had a quiet performance in his new hybrid role. Kept things simple and didn't put a foot wrong all through the game. Getty
Ilkay Gundogan - 7. Tested Leno with a side-footed effort from close range in the 40th minute. Took on more of a leadership role in the absence of De Bruyne and was crucial to City holding on to the ball in the closing stages. PA
Ilkay Gundogan - 7. Tested Leno with a side-footed effort from close range in the 40th minute. Took on more of a leadership role in the absence of De Bruyne and was crucial to City holding on to the ball in the closing stages. PA
Rodri - 6 Got back in time to stop Vinicius from testing Ederson in the tenth minute. Not as effective as usual. Getty
Rodri - 6 Got back in time to stop Vinicius from testing Ederson in the tenth minute. Not as effective as usual. Getty
Jack Grealish - 7. Could only manage a shot straight at Leno when he was picked out on the edge of the penalty area by Haaland early in the game. Saw his effort parried onto the crossbar when he was set up by Haaland in the 27th minute. Getty
Jack Grealish - 7. Could only manage a shot straight at Leno when he was picked out on the edge of the penalty area by Haaland early in the game. Saw his effort parried onto the crossbar when he was set up by Haaland in the 27th minute. Getty
Riyad Mahrez - 6. Played Haaland through on goal with a lofted pass in the 26th minute. Did well to set up Gundogan with a reverse pass before the break. Getty
Riyad Mahrez - 6. Played Haaland through on goal with a lofted pass in the 26th minute. Did well to set up Gundogan with a reverse pass before the break. Getty
Julian Alvarez - 8. Rifled a breathtaking effort into the top corner from more than 25 yards in the 36th minute. Denied by a Leno save at his near post in the 51st minute. AP
Julian Alvarez - 8. Rifled a breathtaking effort into the top corner from more than 25 yards in the 36th minute. Denied by a Leno save at his near post in the 51st minute. AP
Erling Haaland - 8. Scored his 50th goal of the season with a well-taken effort from the penalty spot into the bottom corner in the third minute. Failed to sort out his feet quickly enough when he was played through on goal by Mahrez in the first half. Getty
Erling Haaland - 8. Scored his 50th goal of the season with a well-taken effort from the penalty spot into the bottom corner in the third minute. Failed to sort out his feet quickly enough when he was played through on goal by Mahrez in the first half. Getty
SUBS: Phil Foden (Mahrez 83') - N/A. Brought on to help see out the game and he fulfilled his role to perfection as he combined with Haaland to keep the ball close to the corner flag in the last few minutes of the encounter. Getty
SUBS: Phil Foden (Mahrez 83') - N/A. Brought on to help see out the game and he fulfilled his role to perfection as he combined with Haaland to keep the ball close to the corner flag in the last few minutes of the encounter. Getty
Bernardo Silva (Alvarez, 83) - N/A. Won a few duels after coming on and added extra body to the City midfield. PA
Bernardo Silva (Alvarez, 83) - N/A. Won a few duels after coming on and added extra body to the City midfield. PA

“Pep is very specific, tactically he knows exactly what he wants. Some people take it in quickly, some it takes a little bit longer, for me maybe it took a little bit longer, but once you get it you get it. This season everything has just clicked and I have just grown. The manager has helped me a lot with it,” he said.

“Game by game you start to understand more about what he wants and the team needs. I’m probably most comfortable in the centre but I’ve been playing more as a left back which I really enjoy.

“The way we play is a combination of both anyway and you have to be versatile. I know what the manager expects of me and I love it.”

Ake will not the only City defender getting a new deal, with highly rated teenager Rico Lewis also set for an improved contract tying him to the champions for years to come.

Rico Lewis is highly-rated by Manchester City. Getty
Rico Lewis is highly-rated by Manchester City. Getty

The 18-year-old full-back, who has represented England at all levels from Under-16 to Under-21, has been at City since he was eight years old. He made his Premier League debut last August and his Champions League bow two months later. He subsequently became City’s youngest ever UCL scorer with a goal against Sevilla.

While senior starts have become less frequent as the season wore on, Lewis remains an integral part of the squad and will reap his reward at the end of the campaign with a bumper pay rise.

“He has the ability to make the team play better,” Guardiola said. “That’s not an easy thing to find. Defensively, he understands the game, he’s so clever.”

That was a view echoed by seasoned England international Kyle Walker who has, on occasion, been competing for a place with the youngster 14 years his junior.

“I think Rico is unbelievable,” said Walker. “The way his brain works for a young player is fantastic.”

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Company name: Farmin

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Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi 

Based: Abu Dhabi

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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

AWARDS
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How green is the expo nursery?

Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery

An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo

Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery

Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape

The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides

All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality

Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country

Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow

Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site

Green waste is recycled as compost

Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs

Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers

About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer

Main themes of expo is  ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.

Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months

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50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura

Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos

Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt

Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev

Singles match John Cena v Triple H

Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto

More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

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