Colombian striker Radamel Falcao will find a top class side if Manchester United do not take up the option to sign him after a disappointing loan spell the vice-president of his French club Monaco told the BBC on Saturday.
The 29-year-old — who missed last year’s World Cup after failing to recover from a serious knee injury — is according to Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev wanted by several great clubs.
Falcao, who made his name at Portuguese giants Porto before earning a multi-million euros transfer to Monaco where he spent the 2013/14 season, would cost United £43.2million (DH 244.3m) were they to exercise their option.
However, with just four goals in 19 appearances — he was substituted in United’s last match the FA Cup fifth round clash with Preston — it seems increasingly unlikely.
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“I’m not worried for Falcao, he is a world-class striker,” Vasilyev told the BBC’s Football Focus programme.
“If Manchester United decide not to take up the option at the end of the season, we have interest from other great clubs. So I am really not worried for him at all.”
United have already paid a £6m (DH 33.9m) loan fee and the striker’s £265,000-a-week (DH 1.49m) wages.
United manager Louis van Gaal has been pilloried in the Colombian press and dubbed ‘Van Maal’ (Mr Evil) by former Colombian international striker Faustino Asprilla.
However, the Dutch coach suggested last month that Falcao — who scored nine goals in his first season with Monaco — was a long way from proving he deserved a permanent move.
“If a player costs £95m or £5,000, it doesn’t make any difference. You have to prove yourself.
“We have made this deal and everything is clear.”
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
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- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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
Paatal Lok season two
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Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
match info
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Muniain 37')
Atletico Madrid 1 (Costa 39')
Man of the match Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)
Huroob Ezterari
Director: Ahmed Moussa
Starring: Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ghada Adel and Moustafa Mohammed
Three stars
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
