From San Siro to the Etihad, a new chapter is underway for Tijjani Reijnders. The midfielder who made his mark at Milan with key goals and a calm presence joined Manchester City not as a headline act, but as a player of balance.
In a sport often driven by noise, his story is one of quiet confidence, discipline and steady impact.
Manchester City’s squad was in urgent need of renewal after Kevin De Bruyne's departure left a creative vacuum. City moved swiftly, bringing in Reijnders as part of a reimagined midfield that now also includes the mercurial Rayan Cherki.
A classic box-to-box midfielder, the Dutchman thrives on identifying and exploiting space – both on and off the ball.
As evidenced by his performance in the Club World Cup so far, Reijnders has slotted in at his new club with ease. “He is a really, really good player. You feel it, you smell it. The pace, in the final third, with the ball, when he will get a little bit more rhythm, he will be top,” said Pep Guardiola of his new acquisition.
After arriving at Milan from AZ Alkmaar in 2023, Reijnders' quality quickly shone through. Named Serie A’s best midfielder of the season, he scored 15 goals in all competitions, the most of any central midfielder across Europe’s top five leagues. He emerged as a rare bright spot in an underwhelming Milan side.
Reijnders credits his family’s influence and closeness for the growth of his career.
“My mother is Indonesian and my father is Dutch,” he said. “My siblings and I are a mix. My son Xavien is an incredible mix because my wife is from Iraq.
“As a child, I had Indonesian and Dutch influences which shaped me into who I am today. From Dutch culture, I learnt to stay grounded, and from the Indonesian side, to be very proud of what you do and achieve.”
That blend of cultures extends even to his name. Tijjani Reijnders was named after Nigerian winger Tijani Babangida, a former Ajax star whose talent left a lasting impression on his parents. Drawn to the name as much as the player’s flair, they chose it for their son, a not-so-subtle nod to the game that would soon shape his life.
Football ran deep in the family. His father, Martin Reijnders, was also a footballer, a forward who played in the Netherlands, Finland, and the United States.
Following in his footsteps, Tijjani pursued the sport from a young age. But humility was always part of the journey. While rising through the ranks at PEC Zwolle’s academy, his parents insisted he take a job stacking shelves at Aldi to learn the value of money and ensure discipline.
He met his Iraqi wife, Marina, on Instagram, pursuing her until she agreed to meet him for tea. From the start, he told her that his first girlfriend would be his wife, and so it proved.
Marina was by his side as Reijnders' career gathered momentum, and in February last year their son Xavien was born in Milan. Reijnders describes him as “a beautiful blend of cultures” and is proud that his first word was in Arabic: “Baba.”
Reijnders has often expressed his deep gratitude to Milan – the city that embraced his young family and the club that offered him the platform to thrive. But his journey there might never have happened.
When Barcelona came calling, it was his dad who advised him to walk away. “Obviously it’s flattering that they had him in their sights, after all, we are talking about Barca,” Reijnders senior told Algemeen Dagblad.
“But they were looking for a replacement for Sergio Busquets. I immediately said to Tijjani: ‘You’re not that type of player. Before you know it, you’ll be on the bench, just another talent who didn’t make it abroad'.”
In Milan, Reijnders found exactly what he needed: consistency, clarity, and the space to grow. “Speaking with [Stefano] Pioli [Milan’s former coach] I discovered that the club had followed me all year and the coach knew exactly what I could add to the team and had also been very clear about my role as an attacking midfielder,” he said.
Reijnders is most comfortable as a number eight – a dynamic presence who shuttles between boxes and contributes to both attacking and defensive phases.
Under Paolo Fonseca, who succeeded Pioli, his versatility became even more evident. He was at times deployed just behind the striker, and at others as a deep-lying number six shielding the back line.
What truly set him apart, however, was his composure on the biggest stages. He scored in three Milan derbies last season and delivered a standout performance against Real Madrid in the Uefa Champions League.
Sergio Conceicao's arrival saw Reijnders evolve further, becoming both the heartbeat of Milan’s midfield and a visible leader on the pitch. When trailing 1–0 to Cesc Fabregas’s Como in Serie A, he showcased the full scope of his game. He assisted Christian Pulisic’s equaliser and rattled the crossbar before finally curling in the winner.
Amid managerial upheaval, Reijnders provided consistency. His tactical intelligence flourished, his game matured and his influence grew, catching the attention of Manchester City, among others.
“It feels like the right time for Reijnders to make this move,” Italian football expert Nicky Bandini told The National.
“To me it seemed like the world sat up and paid attention a bit after his performances for the Netherlands at Euro 24 but if anything, the last year has given him a chance to show even more what a player he has become.
“This was a difficult season for Milan, changing managers in the summer then again in December, and more than any other player Reijnders showed he could adapt to different systems and fill different roles in the team – something that a manager such as Guardiola, with his constantly evolving schemes, will always appreciate.
“I don't think City fans should necessarily expect him to keep up his scoring rate from this season – 15 goals across all competitions – because that's still not his primary role as a footballer.
“But I think that number reflects how he has matured and become more confident in his decisions in the final third. He has talked about being less hasty on the pitch, and it shows.”
Reijnders earned praise for his positional discipline and ability to shield the ball during City’s opening match against Wydad Casablanca. Yet questions remain over his defensive bite and effectiveness in duels – areas still ripe for development.
Rested against Al Ain, his upcoming test against Juventus will offer another snapshot of his talents against familiar opposition.
It will be fascinating to see whether Guardiola, alongside Reijnders' compatriot and new assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders, can help him evolve into a truly complete midfielder.
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
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- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
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Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Ukraine
Capital: Kiev
Population: 44.13 million
Armed conflict in Donbass
Russia-backed fighters control territory
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
