David Beckham said he wants to make Zlatan Ibrahimovic his first signing for his Miami-based MLS club. Franck Fife / AFP
David Beckham said he wants to make Zlatan Ibrahimovic his first signing for his Miami-based MLS club. Franck Fife / AFP

David Beckham wants ‘magnificent specimen’ Zlatan Ibrahimovic to join him at Miami club



David Beckham has barely found a new stadium site for his Miami-based Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion team, and he already says he wants to sign Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Beckham told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that he is interested in the Paris Saint-Germain striker, according to a posting on the MLS website.

“If Ibrahimovic is still active, then I want to buy him right away. He is a magnificent physical specimen, so it’s entirely possible,” Beckham said.

“Who does not want a man who is prepared to kill to win?”

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Beckham and Ibrahimovic were teammates in the English midfielder’s final days as a professional player with the French club.

Beckham has found a stadium site in Miami after years of struggles and told the newspaper construction of a venue “will take three years, maybe two.”

Ibrahimovic, 34, could be nearing the end but still might be just what Beckham is looking for to jump start his new club.

“I’ve played with or against the very best in the world. I have never met anyone who was so serious during both practice and games,” Beckham said of Zlatan.

“When I came to Paris I knew that he was an incomparable talent as a player, but he’d be so tough and merciless on himself at all times, I had no idea. He’s a born winner. He is a beast with huge self-confidence and I’m one of his biggest admirers.”

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Types of policy

Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.

Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.

Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.

Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.


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