In the summer Lamine Yamal was born, a few miles from Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast, Robert Lewandowski already had 30-odd professional goals to his name.
Ilkay Gundogan had just announced his great potential, with a scoring debut for Bochum under-19s. It was 2007, and 16 years on, Lewandowski and Gundogan are the evergreens maintaining Barcelona’s proud status as a club stars want to join.
It’s an important role at an institution battling financial difficulties and the tricky legacy of a relatively fallow recent period in the harvest of talent coming up from Barca’s academy. But from there, there’s sudden, high hope that a genuine superstar is emerging.
He is Yamal, who has only just turned 16. Since being fast-tracked, 10 days ago, to the starting XI of the senior Barcelona side, positioned to the right of centre-forward Lewandowski, 19 years his senior, and ahead of Gundogan, a midfielder twice Yamal’s age, he has outshone both.
Two starts, two direct assists; several shots that stung opposition goalkeepers’ palms or fingertips and two efforts that ricocheted back off the frame of the goal are Yamal’s core statistics so far.
They look like landmarks in an express journey into senior football that will leap forward again in the next three days. Yamal, who spent May guiding Spain to the semi-finals of the European Under-17 championship, his four goals making him the tournament’s joint leading scorer, is earmarked for his first senior international call-up.
The greater suspense is not over whether he will be invited to become a strikingly precocious full international but with which country it happens. Morocco, for whom Yamal is eligible through his Moroccan-born father, have been in touch through their manager Walid Regragui, who felt ready, with the player’s blessing, to name him on Thursday in the squad to face Liberia and Burkina Faso next month.
Spain’s manager, Luis de la Fuente, meanwhile, also wants to list Yamal’s name in his squad for the forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Georgia and Cyprus.
The dilemma for Yamal, who under Fifa rules would be committed to one country alone once he plays three senior competitive internationals, is between the upwardly-mobile team Regragui guided to the semi-finals of the last World Cup; or Spain, the country of his birth.
The Spanish national team set-up is currently in a state of chaos, following Fifa’s suspension, pending disciplinary proceedings, of Football Federation president Luis Rubiales because of his conduct immediately after Spain’s women’s team won the World Cup. De la Fuente is also under fire for his tacit backing of Rubiales, who faces demands from across the sport for his resignation after he kissed one of the World Cup winning players, Jenni Hermoso, on the mouth during the medal ceremony.
Spain look narrow favourites to claim Yamal, who has represented them from under-15 to under-19 level and developed as a footballer with Barcelona.
“It’s his personal decision,” said Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona’s manager. “I genuinely don’t know what he will choose. Above all, I want him to spend many years with Barcelona. He can define an era here.”
Xavi promoted Yamal to the first-team squad in April, gave him a Liga debut off the bench when he was still just 15, and admits to being “surprised by what he’s doing at his age. I am not alone for that. He’s exceptional. He’s mature, intelligent and almost always makes the right decisions, takes the right options”.
Witness the inch-perfect cross to Gavi to head in the opening goal in the see-saw victory at Villarreal at the weekend. And Gavi, at 1.73m tall, needs his crosses delivered perfectly to score goals like the one that set Barca on the way to a 4-3 victory. Or witness the smooth turn and pass that engineered the chance for Frenkie de Jong to put Barca 2-0 up.
At 3-2 down, Yamal galvanised the Barca fightback, striking the top of the Villarreal goalpost with a fierce drive off his heavily favoured left foot. He helped complete the comeback when, after another firm drive rebounded off the bottom of the post, Lewandowski followed up to score Barca’s fourth.
When Yamal left the field, 14 minutes from full time, Villarreal supporters stood to applaud his outstanding performance, one that presents Xavi will a quandary he scarcely anticipated two months ago, when there was still a fading hope Lionel Messi – now in Miami – might come back to Barcelona, and Ousmane Dembele – now of Paris Saint-Germain – was Barca’s star winger.
Raphinha, the Brazil international, then assumed that role, first-choice on a right flank where Yamal has been cutting in with such devastating effect while Raphinha served a two-match suspension. The Brazilian is available again for Sunday’s Liga trip to Osasuna. But Xavi will think very hard about demoting the dazzling Yamal to make space for him.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
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
Sweet%20Tooth
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJim%20Mickle%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristian%20Convery%2C%20Nonso%20Anozie%2C%20Adeel%20Akhtar%2C%20Stefania%20LaVie%20Owen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
