This has been the most entertaining summer in Arabian Gulf League history. Nearly every day, another outlandish transfer rumour, some of which become reality.
Jorge Valdivia, “The Magician”? Now you see him, now you don’t. Fujairah had him, lost him, might still get him.
Robinho? Al Ahli and Al Jazira allegedly sniffing around. Madjid Bougherra, the Algeria captain? A done deal, actually, with Fujairah, the little guys who punch above their weight.
Asamoah Gyan with a contract extension from Al Ain to the summer of 2018, by which time he might be up near a double century of goals. Jorginho, Al Wasl’s 14th coach since 2008, linked with a move back to Brazil to become an assistant to Dunga, the new national coach. Not happening, but fun to talk about.
Jazira capturing Mirko Vucinic, a man with 101 Serie A goals, 21 of them for Juventus. Habib Fardan, the UAE international, shifting from Al Nasr to Jazira for Dh40 million? Or is Ahli in there again?
Rashid Essa loaned from Wasl to Al Ain, where seemingly half the UAE national team have gathered. Baniyas pursuing Hamdan Al Kamali, previously thought to be an Al Wahda defender for life. Neil Lennon, former Celtic coach, possibly headed for Al Shabab.
Paulo Bonamigo collecting Brazilians at Sharjah, Promoted Kalba, reeling in Thaer Bawab, a forward formerly on the books of both Real Madrid and Barcelona. Ajman hiring a Tunisian coach, Emirates and Dhafra waiting for the big guys to settle on their expat foursomes, ready to swoop on those made redundant.
Never a dull day in the AGL. Rarely a dull moment.
poberjuerge@thenational.ae
Follow our sports coverage on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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Apple product price list
iPad Pro
11" - $799 (64GB)
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How The Debt Panel's advice helped readers in 2019
December 11: 'My husband died, so what happens to the Dh240,000 he owes in the UAE?'
JL, a housewife from India, wrote to us about her husband, who died earlier this month. He left behind an outstanding loan of Dh240,000 and she was hoping to pay it off with an insurance policy he had taken out. She also wanted to recover some of her husband’s end-of-service liabilities to help support her and her son.
“I have no words to thank you for helping me out,” she wrote to The Debt Panel after receiving the panellists' comments. “The advice has given me an idea of the present status of the loan and how to take it up further. I will draft a letter and send it to the email ID on the bank’s website along with the death certificate. I hope and pray to find a way out of this.”
November 26: ‘I owe Dh100,000 because my employer has not paid me for a year’
SL, a financial services employee from India, left the UAE in June after quitting his job because his employer had not paid him since November 2018. He owes Dh103,800 on four debts and was told by the panellists he may be able to use the insolvency law to solve his issue.
SL thanked the panellists for their efforts. "Indeed, I have some clarity on the consequence of the case and the next steps to take regarding my situation," he says. "Hopefully, I will be able to provide a positive testimony soon."
October 15: 'I lost my job and left the UAE owing Dh71,000. Can I return?'
MS, an energy sector employee from South Africa, left the UAE in August after losing his Dh12,000 job. He was struggling to meet the repayments while securing a new position in the UAE and feared he would be detained if he returned. He has now secured a new job and will return to the Emirates this month.
“The insolvency law is indeed a relief to hear,” he says. "I will not apply for insolvency at this stage. I have been able to pay something towards my loan and credit card. As it stands, I only have a one-month deficit, which I will be able to recover by the end of December."
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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