DUBAI // Omar Abdulrahman’s growing legion of admirers has another among its number, and they do not come much more illustrious, or authoritative.
Xavi, one of the finest, most decorated midfielders of the modern age, also happens to be a footballing anorak. His knowledge of lower division clubs in Spain and even England, as seen in a recent ESPN interview, is phenomenal.
So it should come as no surprise that he has kept an eye on Abdulrahman, and is impressed with what he has seen.
“Yes, I know him,” Xavi said in Dubai on Monday. “A very good player, he’s a very good talent. He’s got a good left foot, a very good talent.”
Abdulrahman has had a stellar year, which began with a series of outstanding performances that helped the UAE to a third-place finish at the Asian Cup in Australia. Continuing good form and silverware with Al Ain has led him to being shortlisted for the AFC Player of the year, alongside Ahmed Khalil.
As others have advised, however, Xavi also said a move abroad will be beneficial to both player and country. Abdulrahman signed a four-year contract with Al Ain earlier this year, soon after the Asian Cup.
ALSO: This Barcelona side can make history by retaining the Uefa Champions League, says Xavi
In the past he has had a trial with Manchester City and in 2013 turned down a loan deal with Benfica.
Xavi has been impressed by the standard of football in the region. “It is a very good level; the technical level is very high. It is physical also. The difference with Europe is tactical. The teams in Europe work more in tactical training than here.
“It is important for him [Abdulrahman], for Arab players, for the country also” to play abroad. “In the future, to be a competitive country, yes it’s good for them.”
Xavi, 35, is now playing with Al Sadd in Qatar, having moved this summer after a 17-year career at Barcelona, and having signed off with the treble of Spanish league and cup as well as lifting the Uefa Champions League.
He still watches all of Barcelona’s games on TV and was exultant, even yesterday, a couple of days after their commanding 4-0 triumph over Real Madrid.
He is at a moment in his career when he is considering a post-playing future.
He has started to work with the Under 23 team at the Aspire Academy in Doha and has spoken about a future either as a coach or a sporting director. On the experience in Qatar, he said it was “very good”.
“I am very happy to be there. I have a very good project until the 2022 World Cup and I am still a player in Al Sadd. I’ve enjoyed it very much in the field. In the project Aspire Academy, it is fantastic for me if I want to coach in the future. I enjoy that a lot.”
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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More on Quran memorisation:
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
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MATCH INFO
Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)
Manchester United 0
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
RESULT
Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)
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
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
MATCH INFO
Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')
Leeds United 0
Zayed Sustainability Prize
MATCH INFO
Everton 2 (Tosun 9', Doucoure 93')
Rotherham United 1 (Olosunde 56')
Man of the Match Olosunde (Rotherham)
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
