Nir Biton

[Ted Hughes]

Doug mentioned him in his training reports.

From the dreaded Mail, apologies if already posted.


Manchester City try to free talented Israeli midfielder from national service


Roberto Mancini is ready to bolster his depleted Manchester City midfield by hauling a 20-year old Israeli prospect out of national service.

Nir Biton, who currently combines military duties with his full-time career at FC Ashdod, created such a favourable impression during a week-long trial with City that his agent is about to begin talks to secure his release from a mandatory stint with the Israel Defence Forces.

The 6ft 4in midfielder, considered the next Yaya Toure, for his size and box-to-box dynamism, has returned to Israel but is expected back at City soon, provided delicate discussions with the military authorities can be successfully completed.

‘Nir is only due to finish his IDF service later this year, but we are ready to begin negotiations about that,’ said agent Dudu Dahan. ‘We will speak with the IDF, so that Nir will be able to leave for Manchester in the next two weeks. This is a great opportunity for him.’

Biton is one of Israel’s emerging prospects, after forcing his way into the national team and scoring six goals in 57 appearances for Ashdod.

After taking part in practice games alongside senior players like Mario Balotelli during his week at their Carrington training base, he is eager to strengthen an injury-hit City squad that has been further weakened by Toure’s involvement in the African Cup of Nations.

After touching down at Ben-Gurion Airport, near the Israeli city of Lod, on Wednesday, Biton said: ‘Spending a week with the City players and staff was an experience of the highest possible level.

‘City are a world-class club, and they hosted me perfectly. They made me feel like a part of Manchester City. From day one, I focused on trying to impress the coaching staff. I was a little excited at the start, but I think it went well overall. It really was an amazing experience.’

Marseille and Rennes are also believed to have expressed an interest in Biton, but City are expected to wrap up a low-cost deal for him, possibly on loan to begin with.

‘We did not go to Carrington for a holiday,’ stressed Dahan. ‘We took this trial very seriously, and I think Nir did his job the best way possible.

'In his final training session, I spoke to the coaching staff, and they told me they were interested in him. We are now very positive about the future.

‘I don’t want to give too many details away, but I am very happy we received this news. Other clubs are interested in him right now. They are very respectable clubs in Europe, but our preference is City, in light of the amazing treatment he was given and the way he blended in with some of the best players in the world.’

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Definitely worth a dabble! On the two days I saw him train at Carrington I would have said he might have been a little overawed initially but on the 2nd day looked quite promising.Although I likened him to Peter Crouch that was all about being tall and thin and nothing about the way he plays.

I saw a U tube of him yesterday and he looked very very promising. And yes I know how players can be made to look on such a video but what I saw was a player with a decent touch,good awareness of teammates,quite strong under pressure,2 decent feet.If we can get him I expect we will.

[Mase]

Cheers for the info!

[Mase]

Just watched that YouTube vid, maybe the one that Doug mentioned:

[youtube]yruJz1WoNLg[/youtube]

Looks like he's skilful for a tall lad and has a good engine.

[Nigels Tackle]

assuming he signs, will he be allowed in abu dhabi if the team head over there?

[Hazy2]

Definitely worth a dabble! On the two days I saw him train at Carrington I would have said he might have been a little overawed initially but on the 2nd day looked quite promising.Although I likened him to Peter Crouch that was all about being tall and thin and nothing about the way he plays.

I saw a U tube of him yesterday and he looked very very promising. And yes I know how players can be made to look on such a video but what I saw was a player with a decent touch,good awareness of teammates,quite strong under pressure,2 decent feet.If we can get him I expect we will.

Hi Doug great reports love em, thanks.
Hargreaves yes or no, and if no do we have anything from the younger players Mancini and his staff should have blooded. Owen is for me better than whats underneath on the past performances but never gonna see it unless he os played. Last night he could have played and done a job. Carling is for the club to use for the future players ? I am not seeing many younger ones given a sniff.

[Ted Hughes]

Just watched that YouTube vid, maybe the one that Doug mentioned:

[youtube]yruJz1WoNLg[/youtube]

Looks like he's skilful for a tall lad and has a good engine.

Video is almost too good to be true but it's pretty obvious there is some serious talent there. I'm quite excited about this; I like this kind of thing. As opposed to the stuff mentioned on the Savic thread, THIS is the kind of player, if you see him come on for City & he struggles a bit, you say 'give him time' because the potential talent is obvious & you know it's worthwhile trying to bring it out.

[ant london]

assuming he signs, will he be allowed in abu dhabi if the team head over there?

No. I don't think he would be

[Mike J]

the vid looks good (so did gorgeous george) but its the same with all these young players. if he was that good how has no one spotted him earlier.

if we sign him i bet he never gets a game.

[Ted Hughes]

the vid looks good (so did gorgeous george) but its the same with all these young players. if he was that good how has no one spotted him earlier.

if we sign him i bet he never gets a game.

He's 19 & plays in Israel.

[lets all have a disco]

I wonder if he is better than Gai?

[DoomMerchant]

the vid looks good (so did gorgeous george) but its the same with all these young players. if he was that good how has no one spotted him earlier.

if we sign him i bet he never gets a game.

He's 19 & plays in Israel.

oi vey.

cheers

[ant london]

chortle @ Linguine

[Mase]

Carling is for the club to use for the future players ? I am not seeing many younger ones given a sniff.

I too would have liked to have seen some of the kids given a chance. The rags, Arsenal and Chelsea to some extent have been doing this for years.

[BlueinBosnia]

assuming he signs, will he be allowed in abu dhabi if the team head over there?

No. I don't think he would be

He may have dual nationality, though.

[DoomMerchant]

assuming he signs, will he be allowed in abu dhabi if the team head over there?

No. I don't think he would be

He may have dual nationality, though.

so yr saying if the Israeli defense forces stop him late at night out for a late smoke/walk with his dog or something he'd just flash his Belgian ID card, and play it cool like?

cheers

[Ted Hughes]

assuming he signs, will he be allowed in abu dhabi if the team head over there?

No. I don't think he would be

He may have dual nationality, though.

so yr saying if the Israeli defense forces stop him late at night out for a late smoke/walk with his dog or something he'd just flash his Belgian ID card, and play it cool like?

cheers

This would presumably be during some random invasion of Abu Dhabi ?

[DoomMerchant]

assuming he signs, will he be allowed in abu dhabi if the team head over there?

No. I don't think he would be

He may have dual nationality, though.

so yr saying if the Israeli defense forces stop him late at night out for a late smoke/walk with his dog or something he'd just flash his Belgian ID card, and play it cool like?

cheers

This would presumably be during some random invasion of Abu Dhabi ?

No I meant home in Israel out for a bit...just yknow minding yr own business, etc...

Altho, we can discuss the Abu Dhabi invasion idea if you'd like. We take their liquor and their women. PM me if interested.

cheers

[Ted Hughes]

No I meant home in Israel out for a bit...just yknow minding yr own business, etc...

Altho, we can discuss the Abu Dhabi invasion idea if you'd like. We take their liquor and their women. PM me if interested.

cheers

If we got the money & liquor the women would be easy enough.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Definitely worth a dabble! On the two days I saw him train at Carrington I would have said he might have been a little overawed initially but on the 2nd day looked quite promising.Although I likened him to Peter Crouch that was all about being tall and thin and nothing about the way he plays.

I saw a U tube of him yesterday and he looked very very promising. And yes I know how players can be made to look on such a video but what I saw was a player with a decent touch,good awareness of teammates,quite strong under pressure,2 decent feet.If we can get him I expect we will.

Hi Doug great reports love em, thanks.
Hargreaves yes or no, and if no do we have anything from the younger players Mancini and his staff should have blooded. Owen is for me better than whats underneath on the past performances but never gonna see it unless he os played. Last night he could have played and done a job. Carling is for the club to use for the future players ? I am not seeing many younger ones given a sniff.

I expect Mancini was/would be planning to use 1 or 2 of the younger players in the cups if the right situations presented themselves.He did in the fist CC games but then it's been Arsenal,Scum and Liverpool as cup games and as we are trying to win every competition he went more with main squad players.Bit of a shame really.

Razak is definitely one who could be used but other names being mentioned are really subs who would come on if the game is won like Rekik,Suarez,and maybe even Roman.The disappointment for me is Assulin as he has a lot to offer.I hope his lack of a mention is down to trouble with injuries but we probably won't know till next year now.

Hargreaves of course is proven quality.He's fit now although not maybe to start a key match but I would expect to see him on the bench and having a chance to play a part.