Ross Barkley travels east on Saturday, from Merseyside to Manchester.
It is simply part of the fixture list for the English Premier League this weekend, but it may also prove a career move.
The suspicion is that Manchester City's prime target next summer will be Everton's prize asset.
A range of factors increase his appeal. City are short of English players and struggle to fill their homegrown quota. Unless their current clubs actively want to sell, locals at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United may be beyond City’s grasp.
An Evertonian might not be.
While Barkley turned 21 this week, he could point to the future in an ageing City side. Their oldest automatic choice is Yaya Toure, 31, the man whose attacking midfield position Barkley could challenge, and the alternative is Frank Lampard, a revelation, but a player whose spell in England could end in January and certainly will not extend into next season.
Yet the prime reason for Barkley’s allure his simple: his talent.
His manager, Roberto Martinez, spent much of last season describing him as “unique”.
Last month, the Spaniard, no stranger to hyperbole, paid his most glowing tribute yet.
“There is no doubt in my mind he will be the best player England has ever had,” he said, prompting questions about whether Barkley will eventually rank above the World Cup-winning luminaries Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton. “Ross has everything. Normally, a player has the pace and power to get around the pitch, or they have the vision to pick a pass. Ross can do both of those things. He is two-footed, he’s intelligent and he is also in love with the game. All he wants to do is play football.”
Barkley’s particular playing style has drawn comparisons with Michael Ballack from Martinez, and Paul Gascoigne from Roy Hodgson, among others. Direct-dribbling central midfielders are not a common sight. It renders Barkley a rarity.
His greatest impression against City came not from his skill but his shot. His last goal was a brilliant opener for Everton against them in May.
But for the subsequent comeback by Pellegrini’s team, it could have cost them the title.
Besides showing a gift for the spectacular, he is less prolific than the clinical pair of Toure and Lampard, even if Barkley’s drought can be explained in part by his delayed start to the season because of a knee injury. The reality is that absences have pockmarked a brief career, with a triple leg break in 2010 the worst.
That he only started four league games before Martinez replaced David Moyes underscores the swiftness of his ascent: within a year, he was coming off the bench for England against Italy in the World Cup.
Besides inexperience, one potential drawback is productivity.
Remarkably, and despite often operating as a No 10, Barkley’s Everton career includes a solitary league assist. He ought to provide the final pass more often.
His situation at the moment is complicated by the reality that two of Everton’s best players this season, Steven Naismith and Samuel Eto’o, have been at their most influential when playing just behind a striker.
Yet a grounding on the flanks could come in handy for City, given the range of talents they possess and the requirement for flexible players.
Where Everton and City are concerned, there is a cautionary tale.
Jack Rodwell was another teenage prodigy, a midfielder with abundant gifts but fitness problems.
His two, injury-hit years at the Etihad Stadium brought just seven league starts, the status as a fringe player and an exit, via the back door, to Sunderland.
Rodwell, too, was hyped on his emergence.
One difference is that while he cost City £15 million (Dh86.4m), Barkley’s price tag would be substantially bigger, meaning any potential buyer ought to give him a pivotal part in their plans.
Another lies in the scale of his ability.
It is why some wonder if he could succeed Toure. It is why there are such expectations.
sports@thenational.ae
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Sri Lanka World Cup squad
Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Isuru Udana, Milinda Siriwardana, Avishka Fernando, Jeevan Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
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
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
