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Mohamed Salah’s agent has denied the forward will leave Liverpool this summer after he was linked with lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
Reports emerged on Monday that Salah, 31, was the subject of a huge bid from the kingdom, with Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad cited as the possible destination.
The transfer fee was reported to be £60 million ($76.4m), with Salah to earn £155m over two years.
Ittihad, one of four top-flight clubs now majority controlled by the Public Investment Fund, have already signed this summer Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Fabinho – also from Liverpool – and Jota.
Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane - who formed a fearsome attack alongside Salah at Liverpool - both sealed moves to the Saudi Pro League this summer, to Al Ahli and Al Nassr respectively.
However, on Monday, Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, posted on social media: “If we considered leaving [Liverpool] this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer. Mohamed remains committed to [Liverpool].”
Salah, who has helped Liverpool win almost every major club trophy since joining from Roma in 2017, signed a long-term deal with the Anfield side in July last year. It is believed to run until 2025.
On Monday, Saudi outlet Al Riyadh claimed Salah was in talks with Ittihad, quoting a source as saying: “It is true. There are negotiations between Mohamed Salah and the Saudi club Al Ittihad.
“This is what I can say, for now I have no other details. The offer must be attractive for the Egyptian star to come to play in Saudi Arabia.”
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Naga
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