Ronald Koeman has said he has spoken with Lionel Messi about Luis Suarez's exit from Barcelona. Reuters
Ronald Koeman has said he has spoken with Lionel Messi about Luis Suarez's exit from Barcelona. Reuters
Ronald Koeman has said he has spoken with Lionel Messi about Luis Suarez's exit from Barcelona. Reuters
Ronald Koeman has said he has spoken with Lionel Messi about Luis Suarez's exit from Barcelona. Reuters

Football

Lionel Messi, Phillipe Coutinho and Barcelona stars facing new pay cut - reports

Spanish giants face financial turbulence as a result of coronavirus

The National

October 07, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Barcelona have begun a process to reduce the pay of players, coaches and non-sporting staff to adapt to the huge losses suffered due to Covid-19, according to reports.

Staff have been notified by the club of the need to reduce costs after posting a loss of €97 million ($113.98 million) in their annual financial report, released on Monday.

The employees, including Lionel Messi, Ansu Fati, Philippe Coutinho and their teammates, have been asked to nominate a representative over the next two weeks to represent them in the negotiations over the changes to their salaries, according to Reuters.

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Thomas Partey, Edinson Cavani, Ryan Sessegnon and 160 big transfers - in pictures

Barca have been forced to hold all home matches without spectators since the pandemic began in March, destroying revenue from ticket sales. Income from merchandising and stadium and museum tours has also been badly affected by a huge drop in tourism to the city.

Barca's accounts on Wednesday made for grim reading, showing a 14 per cent drop in revenue from the previous year and the doubling of their net debt to €488m.

The club enacted a temporary pay cut of 70 per cent at the end of March during the height of the pandemic, lasting the duration of Spain's national state of alarm, which ended in June.

Barca's financial troubles also led them to spend the close season lightening the biggest wage bill in European football, offloading Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal for next to nothing, while selling Arthur Melo for €72m and Nelson Semedo for €30m.

________________

Barca v Sevilla player ratings

BARCELONA PLAYER RATINGS: Neto. 5 – Had little to do other than pick the ball out of the back of the net in the first half. He could do little to stop Luuk de Jong’s thunderous effort, though he did get a hand to it. Was quick off his line to sweep up when needed. On one occasion he almost got caught in possession by Rakitic when attempting a drag back under pressure. Reuters
BARCELONA PLAYER RATINGS: Neto. 5 – Had little to do other than pick the ball out of the back of the net in the first half. He could do little to stop Luuk de Jong’s thunderous effort, though he did get a hand to it. Was quick off his line to sweep up when needed. On one occasion he almost got caught in possession by Rakitic when attempting a drag back under pressure. Reuters
Sergi Roberto. 6 – Solid distribution throughout and, as ever, loved to get forward. Barca’s attacking play was predominantly down the left hand side, but he was always available, and his crossing was a danger all game. Reuters
Sergi Roberto. 6 – Solid distribution throughout and, as ever, loved to get forward. Barca’s attacking play was predominantly down the left hand side, but he was always available, and his crossing was a danger all game. Reuters
Ronald Araujo. 5 – Came in to replace former Sevilla man Clement Lenglet and struggled to keep up with Suso and Ocampos at times. His pin-perfect long ball set Griezmann free early on in the second half. He came close to scoring an own goal when he deflected the ball onto his crossbar. Getty Images
Ronald Araujo. 5 – Came in to replace former Sevilla man Clement Lenglet and struggled to keep up with Suso and Ocampos at times. His pin-perfect long ball set Griezmann free early on in the second half. He came close to scoring an own goal when he deflected the ball onto his crossbar. Getty Images
Gerard Pique. 6 – A busy evening for Pique who had to establish a relationship with Araujo and was under pressure from the Sevilla press all game. Showed tremendous positional sense throughout to win virtually every header. AFP
Gerard Pique. 6 – A busy evening for Pique who had to establish a relationship with Araujo and was under pressure from the Sevilla press all game. Showed tremendous positional sense throughout to win virtually every header. AFP
Jordi Alba. 5 – Tried to catch out Bono with a free-kick but his effort finished wide. Was sometimes caught out by Sevilla’s pace on the break and left the field injured before the end. AFP
Jordi Alba. 5 – Tried to catch out Bono with a free-kick but his effort finished wide. Was sometimes caught out by Sevilla’s pace on the break and left the field injured before the end. AFP
Sergio Busquets. 6 – The master of keeping possession even when pressed, Busquets is accustomed to the kind of pressure applied by the Sevilla midfield. Still, it was an evening of tight margins and few spaces, and he hardly had a moment to think before he was closed down. He did well to block a cross from Ocampos with Sevilla on the attack, and then enjoyed a few forays forward towards the end. Getty Images
Sergio Busquets. 6 – The master of keeping possession even when pressed, Busquets is accustomed to the kind of pressure applied by the Sevilla midfield. Still, it was an evening of tight margins and few spaces, and he hardly had a moment to think before he was closed down. He did well to block a cross from Ocampos with Sevilla on the attack, and then enjoyed a few forays forward towards the end. Getty Images
Frenkie de Jong. 5 – The Dutchman was constantly pressed and found it hard to find any consistency, though he did well to link defence and attack. He ventured forward in the closing minutes and came close to converting a Busquets cross. EPA
Frenkie de Jong. 5 – The Dutchman was constantly pressed and found it hard to find any consistency, though he did well to link defence and attack. He ventured forward in the closing minutes and came close to converting a Busquets cross. EPA
Philippe Coutinho. 6 – The Brazilian’s fine form continued as he found himself in the right place at the right time to seize on Jesus Navas’ mistake and level the scores. Linked well with Fati on the left, though drifted out of the game as it wore on and was later substituted. EPA
Philippe Coutinho. 6 – The Brazilian’s fine form continued as he found himself in the right place at the right time to seize on Jesus Navas’ mistake and level the scores. Linked well with Fati on the left, though drifted out of the game as it wore on and was later substituted. EPA
Lionel Messi. 7 – The Argentine was involved in Barca’s equaliser; he sent a delicious ball towards Alba that caused confusion in the Sevilla defence, and enabled Coutinho to fire home. Played in a deep-lying role to try and get his side going, he came close to scoring before the break when he cut in front the right hand side and again with a low effort from range in the second. Was brought down in the area several times towards the end but wasn’t rewarded with a penalty. AFP
Lionel Messi. 7 – The Argentine was involved in Barca’s equaliser; he sent a delicious ball towards Alba that caused confusion in the Sevilla defence, and enabled Coutinho to fire home. Played in a deep-lying role to try and get his side going, he came close to scoring before the break when he cut in front the right hand side and again with a low effort from range in the second. Was brought down in the area several times towards the end but wasn’t rewarded with a penalty. AFP
Ansu Fati. 7 – The in-form youngster exuded confidence early on with a number of neat flicks coming in from the left hand side. His first shot on goal was comfortably saved by Bono. His final ball sometimes let him down, but he looked a constant threat when running at the Sevilla defence before he was substituted. Reuters
Ansu Fati. 7 – The in-form youngster exuded confidence early on with a number of neat flicks coming in from the left hand side. His first shot on goal was comfortably saved by Bono. His final ball sometimes let him down, but he looked a constant threat when running at the Sevilla defence before he was substituted. Reuters
Antoine Griezmann. 5 – The Frenchman twice came close to scoring in the first half; first with an acrobatic effort that saw him penalised for using a high foot, and again when through on goal, but his first touch was heavy and he was slow to get his shot away. Similarly, when through on goal after the break, he took a heavy touch and missed the opportunity to fire at goal. Looked short of confidence. AFP
Antoine Griezmann. 5 – The Frenchman twice came close to scoring in the first half; first with an acrobatic effort that saw him penalised for using a high foot, and again when through on goal, but his first touch was heavy and he was slow to get his shot away. Similarly, when through on goal after the break, he took a heavy touch and missed the opportunity to fire at goal. Looked short of confidence. AFP
SUBS: Pedri (Fati 60) 5. – The 17-year-old did little to change the game when he came on, though he will have loved the opportunity in such a big game. AFP
SUBS: Pedri (Fati 60) 5. – The 17-year-old did little to change the game when he came on, though he will have loved the opportunity in such a big game. AFP
Trincao (Griezmann 60). 6 – Enjoyed a foray down the right 10 minutes after coming on but his cross to the far post was cleared for a corner. Then had a glorious chance to win it cutting in from the right but his shot was saved. EPA
Trincao (Griezmann 60). 6 – Enjoyed a foray down the right 10 minutes after coming on but his cross to the far post was cleared for a corner. Then had a glorious chance to win it cutting in from the right but his shot was saved. EPA
Miralem Pjanic (Coutinho 75). N/A – Made his presence felt with a thundering challenge soon after coming on. Getty Images
Miralem Pjanic (Coutinho 75). N/A – Made his presence felt with a thundering challenge soon after coming on. Getty Images
Sergino Dest (Alba 75). N/A – The first American player to play for Barcelona’s first team and the fifth US international to play in La Liga, he looked lively when he came on and set up Messi for a strike at goal from 25 yards. AP Photo
Sergino Dest (Alba 75). N/A – The first American player to play for Barcelona’s first team and the fifth US international to play in La Liga, he looked lively when he came on and set up Messi for a strike at goal from 25 yards. AP Photo

________________

They only brought in three players, Miralem Pjanic, Francisco Trincao and Sergino Dest for a combined €112m.

They failed to make any extra additions before the transfer window shut on Monday, despite showing interest in Manchester City defender Eric Garcia and Olympique Lyonnais forward Memphis Depay.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clinicy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Prince%20Mohammed%20Bin%20Abdulrahman%2C%20Abdullah%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%20and%20Saud%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2025%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20More%20than%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Gate%20Capital%2C%20Kafou%20Group%20and%20Fadeed%20Investment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
%3Cp%3EElena%20Rybakina%20(Kazakhstan)%3Cbr%3EOns%20Jabeur%20(Tunisia)%3Cbr%3EMaria%20Sakkari%20(Greece)%3Cbr%3EBarbora%20Krej%C4%8D%C3%ADkov%C3%A1%20(Czech%20Republic)%3Cbr%3EBeatriz%20Haddad%20Maia%20(Brazil)%3Cbr%3EJe%C4%BCena%20Ostapenko%20(Latvia)%3Cbr%3ELiudmila%20Samsonova%3Cbr%3EDaria%20Kasatkina%3Cbr%3EVeronika%20Kudermetova%3Cbr%3ECaroline%20Garcia%20(France)%3Cbr%3EMagda%20Linette%20(Poland)%3Cbr%3ESorana%20C%C3%AErstea%20(Romania)%3Cbr%3EAnastasia%20Potapova%3Cbr%3EAnhelina%20Kalinina%20(Ukraine)%3Cbr%3EJasmine%20Paolini%20(Italy)%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Navarro%20(USA)%3Cbr%3ELesia%20Tsurenko%20(Ukraine)%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Raducanu%20(Great%20Britain)%20%E2%80%93%20wildcard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
%3Cp%3EFly%20with%20Etihad%20Airways%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20New%20York%E2%80%99s%20JFK.%20There's%2011%20flights%20a%20week%20and%20economy%20fares%20start%20at%20around%20Dh5%2C000.%3Cbr%3EStay%20at%20The%20Mark%20Hotel%20on%20the%20city%E2%80%99s%20Upper%20East%20Side.%20Overnight%20stays%20start%20from%20%241395%20per%20night.%3Cbr%3EVisit%20NYC%20Go%2C%20the%20official%20destination%20resource%20for%20New%20York%20City%20for%20all%20the%20latest%20events%2C%20activites%20and%20openings.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WHAT%20START-UPS%20IS%20VISA%20SEEKING%3F
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEnablers%20of%20digital%20services%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Blockchain%20and%20cryptocurrency%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Crowdfunding%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Banking-as-a-service%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Banking%20identification%20number%20sponsors%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Issuers%2Fprocessors%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Programme%20managers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDigital%20issuance%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Blockchain%20and%20cryptocurrency%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Alternative%20lending%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Personal%20financial%20management%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Money%20transfer%20and%20remittance%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Digital%20banking%20(neo%20banks)%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Digital%20wallets%2C%20peer-to-peer%20and%20transfers%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Employee%20benefits%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Payables%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Corporate%20cards%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EValue-add%20for%20merchants%2Fconsumers%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Data%20and%20analytics%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20ID%2C%20authentication%20and%20security%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Insurance%20technology%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Loyalty%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Merchant%20services%20and%20tools%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Process%20and%20payment%20infrastructure%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Retail%20technology%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESME%20recovery%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Money%20movement%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Acceptance%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Risk%20management%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Brand%20management%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENew%20categories%20for%202023%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Sustainable%20FinTechs%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Risk%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Urban%20mobility%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

 

 

France and Covid-19
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
On Women's Day
Read more about the coronavirus
UAE currency
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Afghanistan Premier League - at a glance

Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Fixtures:

Tue, Oct 16, 8pm: Kandahar Knights v Kabul Zwanan; Wed, Oct 17, 4pm: Balkh Legends v Nangarhar Leopards; 8pm: Kandahar Knights v Paktia Panthers; Thu, Oct 18, 4pm: Balkh Legends v Kandahar Knights; 8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Paktia Panthers; Fri, Oct 19, 8pm: First semi-final; Sat, Oct 20, 8pm: Second semi-final; Sun, Oct 21, 8pm: final

Table:

1. Balkh Legends 6 5 1 10

2. Paktia Panthers 6 4 2 8

3. Kabul Zwanan 6 3 3 6

4. Nagarhar Leopards 7 2 5 4

5. Kandahar Knights 5 1 4 2

World%20Food%20Day%20
%3Cp%3ECelebrated%20on%20October%2016%2C%20to%20coincide%20with%20the%20founding%20date%20of%20the%20United%20Nations%20Food%20and%20Agriculture%20Organisation%2C%20World%20Food%20Day%20aims%20to%20tackle%20issues%20such%20as%20hunger%2C%20food%20security%2C%20food%20waste%20and%20the%20environmental%20impact%20of%20food%20production.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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

Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

Tomb%20Raider%20I%E2%80%93III%20Remastered
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20series%20X%2FS%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Rocketman

Director: Dexter Fletcher

Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
On Women's Day
On Women's Day
The five stages of early child’s play

From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:

1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.

2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.

3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.

4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.

5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.

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RB Leipzig 2 (Klostermann 24', Schick 68')

Hertha Berlin 2 (Grujic 9', Piatek 82' pen)

Man of the match Matheus Cunha (Hertha Berlin

Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

On Women's Day
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

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