Everton manager Roberto Martinez believes the transfer window should close once the new season starts so that clubs can focus on the competition without worrying about interests in their players.
Martinez has been critical of Chelsea’s continued pursuit of Everton defender John Stones, for whom the champions are reportedly readying a third bid after the first two were rejected.
“The window, when it is open and we have to prepare for official games, is very, very unfair. I don’t think it is right,” the 42-year-old told the Monday Night Football.
“I think we should have a period where we assemble our squad, and then once the first league game starts everyone is focused.
Greg Lea: Chelsea the team to beat but lack of transfer activity could return to haunt Jose Mourinho
“I think we forget that footballers have a human side and it can really affect. Players like Stones and (Ross) Barkley have an incredible future and will attract interest from the outside.”
The Spaniard praised his young midfielder Barkley, who scored the first goal in his club’s 2-2 draw against Premier League new boys Watford on Saturday.
“Ross is a phenomenal footballer, if you want to analyse him from a physical point of view, he’s someone quite unique,” Martinez said.
“He’s taken a real learning curve from the last campaign, he’s got a very important role, and he’s someone that is a joy to work with.
“That personality and that maturity will make him one of the best players in the league, down to his personality.”
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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'Young girls thinking of big ideas'
Words come easy for aspiring writer Afra Al Muhairb. The business side of books, on the other hand, is entirely foreign to the 16-year-old Emirati. So, she followed her father’s advice and enroled in the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s summer entrepreneurship course at Abu Dhabi University hoping to pick up a few new skills.
“Most of us have this dream of opening a business,” said Afra, referring to her peers are “young girls thinking of big ideas.”
In the three-week class, pupils are challenged to come up with a business and develop an operational and marketing plan to support their idea. But, the learning goes far beyond sales and branding, said teacher Sonia Elhaj.
“It’s not only about starting up a business, it’s all the meta skills that goes with it -- building self confidence, communication,” said Ms Elhaj. “It’s a way to coach them and to harness ideas and to allow them to be creative. They are really hungry to do this and be heard. They are so happy to be actually doing something, to be engaged in creating something new, not only sitting and listening and getting new information and new knowledge. Now they are applying that knowledge.”
Afra’s team decided to focus their business idea on a restaurant modelled after the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Each level would have a different international cuisine and all the meat would be halal. The pupils thought of this after discussing a common problem they face when travelling abroad.
“Sometimes we find the struggle of finding halal food, so we just eat fish and cheese, so it’s hard for us to spend 20 days with fish and cheese,” said Afra. “So we made this tower so every person who comes – from Africa, from America – they will find the right food to eat.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC