This time last year, Paris Saint-Germain were preparing for life without the totemic Kylian Mbappe, finally installed at the Real Madrid he had been itching to join.
No matter, suggested manager Luis Enrique, this post-Mbappe PSG, less channelled around one superstar, would become a stronger side. “The star now is the team,” declared club president Nasser Al Khelaifi.
Sure enough, PSG, who have enjoyed huge spending power since their Qatari backers took control of the club in 2011, finished the season with the prize they crave most, a maiden Uefa Champions League, achieved via a 5-0 rout of Inter Milan in the final, with four English Premier League clubs defeated en route.
The post-Mbappe heroes were many, chief among them goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for his crucial saves in the knockout phase.
Donnarumma has now been informed he is disposable. The Italy captain has a year left on his contract, is in demand elsewhere but his imminent exit is not simply about PSG making a hard business decision.
While Luis Enrique has praised Donnarumma’s shot-stopping excellence, the coach’s assessment of his footwork, his comfort receiving and distributing the ball has not always been positive. And those skills are essential for Luis Enrique’s vision.
David de Gea, who was Spain’s standout number one keeper for a long period until Luis Enrique, as Spanish national coach, dropped him in favour of a more confident passer, would testify to that.
Big pressure then on 23-year-old Lucas Chevalier, signed by PSG from Lille, to fill Donnarumma’s big gloves and show he’s more balletic and precise with the ball at his feet.
Chevalier’s debut, Wednesday night’s see-saw Uefa Super Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur, featured an error in conceding the first goal, but he was spared lingering comparisons with Donnarumma by finishing victorious on penalties after PSG had recovered from 2-0 down to force the tiebreaker.
Chevalier saved the third Spurs spot-kick with PSG trailing 2-1 in the shoot-out. They went on to win it 4-3. “I must say I’m very happy with the way he ended the match,” said a relieved Luis Enrique.
“That was important. He showed the character to be a PSG player. We’re sure of the direction we are moving in, looking to get even better and we believe we’ll be stronger this season.”
Donnarumma will hear the echoes there of what was said about the departing Mbappe.
The Pogba Enigma
Next month, a collection of jewellery endorsed by Paul Pogba, star of France’s 2018 World Cup triumph, will be presented in a Monte Carlo boutique. Some time further along the line, Ligue 1 will discover if Pogba can still shine as a footballer.
He has signed a two-year contract with Monaco, club and player determined a full stop be put on a dispiriting, alarming period in the player’s life and career and that a supremely gifted midfielder can return to his old powers.
He played his last professional match almost two years ago, his second spell with Juventus coming to an abrupt end after he failed a routine doping test and received, after an appeal, an 18-month ban.
While he served his suspension, a French court heard how Pogba had suffered violent threats from a criminal group including his brother Mathias and childhood friends. Mathias and five others were found guilty of attempted extortion.
His comeback with Monaco, a prestigious though relatively low-key club in terms of attendances in the Stade Louis II, makes Pogba feel “like a kid who’s just signed pro”.
He admits to impatience for his return to action, but there is caution about when he will be deemed match-fit for a Ligue 1 debut. It will be at least a month yet, says Adi Hutter, the Monaco head coach, adding that Pogba is “doing a really good job with his rehab”.
Once he is back, Ligue 1 will appreciate Pogba’s presence. The league has struggled, in a changing media landscape, to push up the broadcast-rights value of their top division in recent seasons, with PSG’s dominance hurting the league’s competitive edge and the best French players tending to migrate abroad.
Having Pogba on the cast list, along with France’s all-time record international goalscorer, Olivier Giroud – signed by Lille after 13 seasons away from French club football in England, Italy and the US – spreads some stardust beyond the capital.
Paris pairs up
It takes about 15 strides to get from the perimeter of the Parc des Princes, home of PSG, to the outer wall of the Stade Jean-Bouin.
It would be even fewer paces if you are the size of Donnarumma, although recent events mean he is very unlikely to be making the very short trip to what is now Europe’s cosiest top-flight derby.
For the first time in 36 years, Ligue 1 has a proper all-capital rivalry and if Paris FC’s promotion to the upper division, and relocation to the Jean-Bouin, will not yet have PSG worried at this very local threat to their global status, the city will take the development as long overdue.
Besides being head and shoulders above the rest of French football for most of the last decade, PSG have had to use a long telescope to view another venue where a threat to their pre-eminence might emerge from.
Having a competitor on their very doorstep will seem surreal, not least because the 20,000 Jean-Bouin currently houses a PSG superstore, where, when The National dropped in last week, paraphernalia connected to PSG’s historic first Champions League triumph was being retailed at a busy rate.
Paris FC intend initially to consolidate their Ligue 1 status. But they are armed with ambitious new backers.
Last year, with promotion from Ligue 2 looking likely, the Arnault family, whose interests include the LVMH luxury goods empire, bought a majority stake, a deal which incorporated a stake for Red Bull, who have a long-term relationship with various European clubs, such as RB Leipzig and Salzburg and whose head of global football is the former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
With that access to funds and expertise, it should not be long before PSG find their neighbours turning noisy.
Aubameyang’s Marseille boomerang
Perhaps the least joyful place to be on the last day of May was Marseille. Around the city were hundreds of Inter Milan jerseys – a show of fierce support, for an evening at least, towards PSG’s opponents in the Champions League final.
Much was at stake for fans of Olympique Marseille. Until May 31st, OM had been the only French club ever to have won the European Cup. PSG's victory meant Marseille are no longer unique for that. But they intend to give their rivalry with PSG greater bite over the next nine months.
Under the watch of Mehdi Benatia, the former Morocco international who is OM’s director of football, Marseille have in 2025 lured Amine Gouiri, the Algeria striker, to the club – with huge success: Gouiri struck 10 goals in his first 14 OM appearances – captured the sought-after Brazilian winger Igor Paixao and reunited Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with the Marseille jersey.
Aubameyang, whose mazy career journey in his 30s has taken him from Arsenal to Barcelona then to Chelsea, is back for a second spell at Marseille, having left in the summer of 2024 to join Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia.
Fans in the main are pleased to see ‘Auba’ again, as part of a strong attacking roster – and to hear him promise, that at 36, “the pace is still there – and so are the goals.”
Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
Europe's top EV producers
- Norway (63% of cars registered in 2021)
- Iceland (33%)
- Netherlands (20%)
- Sweden (19%)
- Austria (14%)
- Germany (14%)
- Denmark (13%)
- Switzerland (13%)
- United Kingdom (12%)
- Luxembourg (10%)
Source: VCOe
Lewis Hamilton in 2018
Australia 2nd; Bahrain 3rd; China 4th; Azerbaijan 1st; Spain 1st; Monaco 3rd; Canada 5th; France 1st; Austria DNF; Britain 2nd; Germany 1st; Hungary 1st; Belgium 2nd; Italy 1st; Singapore 1st; Russia 1st; Japan 1st; United States 3rd; Mexico 4th
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
UAE SQUAD
UAE team
1. Chris Jones-Griffiths 2. Gio Fourie 3. Craig Nutt 4. Daniel Perry 5. Isaac Porter 6. Matt Mills 7. Hamish Anderson 8. Jaen Botes 9. Barry Dwyer 10. Luke Stevenson (captain) 11. Sean Carey 12. Andrew Powell 13. Saki Naisau 14. Thinus Steyn 15. Matt Richards
Replacements
16. Lukas Waddington 17. Murray Reason 18. Ahmed Moosa 19. Stephen Ferguson 20. Sean Stevens 21. Ed Armitage 22. Kini Natuna 23. Majid Al Balooshi
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
RESULTS
6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
Winner: Ertijaal, Jim Crowley (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap $60,000 1,400m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Handicap $160,000 1,400m
Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group 3 $200,000 2,000m
Winner: Folkswood, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile Group 2 $250,000 1,600m
Winner: Janoobi, Jim Crowley, Mike de Kock
9.25pm: Handicap $125,000 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
FIGHT CARD
Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)
Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
'I Want You Back'
Director:Jason Orley
Stars:Jenny Slate, Charlie Day
Rating:4/5
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENomad%20Homes%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHelen%20Chen%2C%20Damien%20Drap%2C%20and%20Dan%20Piehler%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20and%20Europe%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20PropTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2444m%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Acrew%20Capital%2C%2001%20Advisors%2C%20HighSage%20Ventures%2C%20Abstract%20Ventures%2C%20Partech%2C%20Precursor%20Ventures%2C%20Potluck%20Ventures%2C%20Knollwood%20and%20several%20undisclosed%20hedge%20funds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C600rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C500-4%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.9L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh119%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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)
Sunday's games
All times UAE:
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace, 4pm
Manchester City v Arsenal, 6.15pm
Everton v Watford, 8.30pm
Chelsea v Manchester United, 8.30pm
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SNAPSHOT
While Huawei did launch the first smartphone with a 50MP image sensor in its P40 series in 2020, Oppo in 2014 introduced the Find 7, which was capable of taking 50MP images: this was done using a combination of a 13MP sensor and software that resulted in shots seemingly taken from a 50MP camera.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
