New signing Owen Hargreaves has been left out of Manchester City's Champions League squad that will be named on Friday.
Manager Roberto Mancini believes Hargreaves needs five or six weeks fitness work before being ready. But City will give places to unwanted left back Wayne Bridge, plus kids from the academy who cannot expect to play.
Carlos Tevez to stand by Manchester City if missus can find happiness in Manchester
Carlos Tevez could stay to help City’s push for glory in the next few years – if his missus says it’s all right!
The Blues striker came close to being swapped for Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder a fortnight ago, after telling the club he wanted to leave at the end of last season.
But after the transfer deadline came and went without anyone meeting the Blues’ £40million asking price, Tevez’s adviser Kia Joorabchian says he is happy to remain.
Brazilian outfit Corinthians tried to land the Argentinian ace with a £38m offer – but could not provide bank guarantees – and are said to be putting together another bid for the January transfer window.
But Joorabchian says that might not be needed if Tevez’s wife Vanesa can make a go of her second attempt at settling in Cheshire.
He feels there is a chance this time could be more successful, as she is friends with Sergio Aguero’s wife Giannina Maradona.
The couple split up initially as she did not like life in Prestbury and fled back to Buenos Aires, taking her daughter with her, and giving birth to their second child after arriving back home.
After a reconciliation this summer, Tevez announced that he wanted to leave City and fix up a move to a place where his wife would feel more at home, citing South America, Spain or Italy. That failed to happen, despite strong interest from Corinthians and Inter – who came up with a swap for Sneijder, as exclusively revealed by M.E.N. Sport in July.
That deal came about after no-one could meet City’s asking price, originally slated as £50m.
“Inter were offering Wesley Sneijder in exchange for Carlos two weeks ago but after signing Samir Nasri they had too many players in that position.
“If Nasri hadn’t done that deal, it probably would have attracted City.”
But Tevez’s wife’s decision to give England another go, and the Blues’ blistering start to the season, may yet change Tevez’s mind, says Joorabchian, who tried to broker the failed deals.
“Now he has convinced his wife she should come for a while at least,” he added. “Maybe she will settle down and things will be fine, as it was more to do with family reasons.
“Culturally if he went to Milan or Spain it would be easier for his wife to adapt in terms of getting around and communicating better. That was a real, major problem. The two wives are friends and Sergio is friends with Carlos, so that might help.”
Red Devils handed City star warning
Manchester City full-back Pablo Zabaleta has warned rivals Manchester United that they 'will win some major trophies this season'.
The Argentina international was particularly keen to fire out a warning message to City's rivals, who he described as 'party-poopers' for his side over the years.
Zabaleta has a point given that City's FA Cup win in May to end a 35-year wait for silverware was overshadowed by United sealing a record 19th league title win earlier on the same day, while United then thrashed Arsenal 8-2 following City's 5-1 win at Tottenham last Sunday.
Zabaleta said: "United have always been the party-poopers for us. They are always one step ahead of us. But this time we are ready for the challenge. We will give the toughest competition to them and the other teams as well.
He added: "True, they are making the right moves... But we are also there. The bigger clubs have been spending a huge amount of money for the players. We too fall in the same league. We are confident, and upbeat, that we will win some major trophies this season."
OTHER BOLLOX
Tottenham have already approached Bolton for fresh talks in January over the potential transfer of defender Gary Cahill, as they bid to beat bitter rivals Arsenal in the race for the England international's signature. Metro
Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder has denied his £250,000-per-week wage demands put the brakes on a move to Manchester United. Daily Mirror
Tottenham made a last-minute attempt to hijack Craig Bellamy's return to Liverpool, but the Welshman said he could not resist the lure of playing for Kenny Dalglish at Anfield. Metro
Arsenal failed in their attempts to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze for £35m on transfer deadline day, according to reports in Germany. talkSHIT
Steve McClaren is set to quit as Nottingham Forest boss after just three months as he is frustrated at their lack of signings. Daily Mirror
Sunderland new boy Nicklas Bendtner made up his mind to leave Arsenal in February after not being picked to start the Carling Cup final. Daily Mirror
Everton manager David Moyes will be given a chunk of the £10m received for midfielder Mikel Arteta to spend in the January transfer window after the Spaniard's move to Arsenal was completed too late for Moyes to sign a replacement. His priorities will be a midfielder and a striker. Daily Mail
Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane, who left Tottenham to join David Beckham at LA Galaxy earlier this month, says he is unlikely to return to the Premier League this winter to stay fit once the Major League Soccer season is over. the Sun
England striker Peter Crouch says he left Tottenham for Stoke because he feared he would be left on the bench at White Hart Lane. the Sun
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's son Kai has been affected by Mikel Arteta's switch to Arsenal - mum Coleen used Twitter to reveal that his Everton kit has "Arteta" on the back. Metro
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