A four-year-old London boy has begun training with Arsenal, after the world famous football club spotted the young player while he was still in nursery.
Zayn Ali Salman caught the eye of scouts while outperforming with boys much older than him at the local grass roots team, and becomes the youngest-ever recruit to the Arsenal pre-academy.
His talent has always been obvious.
“You could always see he’s just a cut above the rest,” said his father Ali Salman, an Arsenal fan whose parents are from Iraq. “He’s just got a raw, raw talent,” he told The National.
Mr Salman says Zayn’s special ability was apparent from a young age, whether it was beginning to talk at only 8 or 9 months old, or cycling without stabilisers at the age of 3.
“He was training with much, much bigger kids. Arsenal then scouted him while he was still in nursery. That kind of set the tone, and it just went like wildfire — you know how it is with the football world. As soon as there’s a sniff of real talent, everyone’s on him.
“Obviously it’s a bit much for me as a father, but at the same time I’m loving it and taking it with a pinch of salt. It’s a long, long journey.”
After he was invited into the Arsenal pre-academy, scouts from other London clubs contacted Mr Salman to show their interest, including Chelsea, Fulham and Crystal Palace.
For now, because of Zayn’s age, no club can actually sign him, he can only train with the clubs.
Mr Salman says that although the buzz around Zayn has been amazing, they are just taking it one step at a time.
“He’s just like any other reception kid. He doesn’t know what’s happened to be honest, he’s just enjoying it,” said Mr Salman.
In recent years, footballers from the Middle East and North Africa region have surged in prominence in the English Premier League.
Egypt and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been one of the best — if not the best — players in the Premier League.
Manchester City and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez has won the Premier League three times, and Arsenal count Egypt’s Mohamed Elneny among their numbers.
“We need more of our own flying the flag, breaking those barriers, which I think is major,” said Mr Salman.
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Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Your Guide to the Home
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THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
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Joker: Folie a Deux
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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SPECS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
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Transmission: 10-speed auto
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RESULT
Chelsea 2
Willian 13'
Ross Barkley 64'
Liverpool 0
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
