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Pellegrini: I turned down offers to say 'yes' to City
The 59-year-old revealed last night he has turned down offers from Paris Saint-Germain, Anzhi Makhachkala and a host of clubs in Italy to replace Roberto Mancini at the Etihad Stadium this summer
City have beaten off competition from the world’s biggest clubs to land Manuel Pellegrini.
The 59-year-old revealed last night he has turned down offers from Paris Saint-Germain, Anzhi Makhachkala and a host of clubs in Italy to replace Roberto Mancini at the Etihad Stadium this summer.
The Chilean coach, who will leave Malaga after Saturday’s game with Barcelona, had previously refused to comment on his link with City.
But yesterday he broke his silence to confirm he had a verbal agreement with the Blues after shunning interest from around the world.
Pellegrini said: “City have shown a lot of interest in me becoming their new coach. My agent has spoken at length with them.
“There is nothing signed still so I cannot say that I am their coach but I don’t see that there will be any problems. I have a verbal agreement and I hope that it can be executed.”
Asked about interest from other clubs, Pellegrini added: “PSG is a very important
institution – one of the most important in Europe – and they put themselves in contact but the priority was to work with Manchester City.
“I am proud that clubs from Italy, England, France and Russia are interested in me.
“Manchester City have offered me a great project. Hopefully it becomes official.”
Pellegrini has been indentified as the Blues’ No.1 candidate for the job after developing a reputation for playing attacking football at Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga.
And Pellegrini hinted that City fans can expect to watch his City team play more attractive football next season.
“If it happens, Manchester City will have a team that will play very good football,” he said.
“City have a great team and a clear plan on how things will develop. This motivates me.”
RAFA BENITEZ TO BLOCK EDINSON CAVANI'S MOVE TO MANCHESTER CITY OR CHELSEA
NEW Napoli boss Rafa Benitez is out to block Edinson Cavani’s £50m move to Manchester City.
Benitez has taken over at the Italian club and told Cavani he wants him to stay in Serie A instead of joining the Premier League billionaires.
The Blues opened talks with Napoli bosses last week about landing Cavani in what would be one of the biggest transfers of the summer.
But Starsport can reveal Benitez only agreed to take charge at Napoli if his new club promised to keep the sought-after Uruguay striker.
Benitez knows his chances of more success in Naples rest on Cavani staying put.
And Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is now set to offer his prize asset a new deal worth £140,000-a-week.
A source said: “Rafa isn’t stupid. He made it clear he would only take the Napoli job provided the club kept Edinson Cavani.
“If he wants to win trophies at Napoli, Benitez knows he has to have Cavani in his team.
"Chelsea are also keen on signing him so if he can stop him going to the Premier League he will be delighted."
Missing out on Cavani would be a huge blow to City, who are desperate to make a statement following their woeful season.
But to rub salt into the wounds, Cavani, who has been given until next week to decide his future, has revealed his dream is to join either Real Madrid or Barcelona.
Cavani said: “As a child I dreamed of playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona.
“I cannot say anything about my future because I still do not know anything. I have a contract and I just think about Napoli.”
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City and United to battle it out for Fabregas with Barca ready to let ex-Arsenal star leave
Manchester United and Manchester City are competing to bring Cesc Fabregas back to the Barclays Premier League next season.
New United manager David Moyes is considering a bid for the £25million-rated midfielder after being made aware of Barcelona’s willingness to sell the former Arsenal skipper.
But in an intriguing sub-plot, City have been notified of the Spain midfielder’s availability, and are also interested.
Arsenal have first option, as part of the deal that took Fabregas to the Nou Camp, but Moyes is a long-time admirer of the 26-year-old and even made efforts to take him to Everton on loan during Fabregas’ early days at Arsenal.
He may have better luck at the second attempt after identifying central midfield as United’s relative weakness and weighing up possible moves for Fabregas, his Barcelona team-mate Thiago Alcantara and PSV Eindhoven skipper Kevin Strootman.
Holland midfielder Strootman, 23, is a tall, commanding figure who can operate in a holding role or as a deep-lying playmaker.
He has been under review at Old Trafford for months.
Outgoing Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini is poised to take over at City in the coming weeks and the Chilean is keen on bringing emerging La Liga talent Isco with him to England.
The deposed champions are also hoping to land Isco's and Fabregas' Spanish countryman Jesus Navas.
Pellegrini, who will replace the sacked Roberto Mancini, has ordered a big-money bid for Sevilla's flying winger.
But Pellegrini must fight off interest from Real Madrid for both Isco, 21, and Navas, 27, to bolster his attacking options.
Meet the stylist that's giving footballers the hairdryer treatment
Jamil, 42, offers a round-the-clock call out service for the likes of Robin Van Persie, Kolo Toure, Sergio Aguero and David Silva
He's a dab hand with the hairdryer, so it’s no surprise stylist-to-the-stars Jamil Fatani counts some of the Premier League’s top names among his clients.
Jamil, 42, offers a round-the-clock call out service for the likes of Robin Van Persie, Kolo Toure, Sergio Aguero and David Silva.
The hairdresser travels to their plush homes, sometimes in the middle of the night, to prepare them for nights out and last minute fashion shoots.
He’s even been known to fly over to Madrid and Valencia to work on a player’s image.
Jamil, who lives in Bramhall, got his big break when he was introduced to Manchester City’s Kolo Toure through a friend.
The defender then told his fellow Blues about the stylist, and many others in the Premiership have also signed him up.
“A lot of the time it’s last minute, because they’ve found out they have a fashion shoot in the morning,” Jamil said.
“The latest I’ve been out is about midnight.”
“For a lot of the players, they are not just footballers, they are celebrities and there’s an image side to it.They have brands to support.”
But it’s not just the players who use Jamil.
“The wives and girlfriends tend to jump on board too,” he said. “It’s not just the guys. I might do a cut, but I do a colour for the girls.”
Among them was Sergio Aguero’s wife Giannina Maradona, daughter of the Argentine legend Diego.
Jamil grew up in London, but moved to Manchester in his teens. He learned his trade at Manchester College then trained with hairdressers and barbershops around Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter.
Jamil, who now divides his time between Manchester, London and Paris, said: “I’m very fortunate to be in the position I’m in.
“I understand that if it wasn’t for a good friend of mine who introduced me to (Kolo Toure) then I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to live my dream and do what I’m doing.
“I feel really grateful for that.”
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Manchester City line up £25m summer swoop for Spain wide man
Incoming Manchester City head coach Manuel Pellegrini intends to make exciting Sevilla midfield player Jesus Navas his first signing having been officially confirmed in the Eastlands dug-out, says the Daily Mail.
The experienced Malaga boss still has one more match left in charge of the Liga outfit this Saturday before he ends his two-and-a-half-year stay with the Spanish high flyers.
After which it is expected that the 59-year-old will be officially announced as the successor to the recently departed City trainer Roberto Mancini, who was sacked by the club earlier this month after four years at the helm in the north west.
And it is understood that the former Villarreal and Real Madrid manager will make Sevilla’s Spain international his first new recruit at City when the transfer window reopens on 1 July.
Navas, 27, is contracted to Sevilla until the summer of 2015 and as a result the winger could cost the mega-rich Premier League club as much as £25 million to secure his services, as well as beating off competition from Spanish giants Madrid.
Revenge is suite for swanky City as new London base dwarfs United's rival operation
The battle between the Premier League’s two Manchester giants now extends to their rival commercial operations in London.
United are the runaway leaders in maximising the club brand, with a well-established business in London that moved from Pall Mall to a Mayfair office next door to Langan’s Brasserie.
City are setting up their base in the capital next season in a suite of offices at 10 Brock Street, Regent’s Place, which is far grander than United’s relatively understated London home. They are currently fitting out the entire 7,201 square feet of the top 14th floor of the glass-fronted designer building near Great Portland Street.
There will be work stations for 50 employees, three meeting rooms, a 20-seat presentation suite plus reception and kitchen. Even the televisions have 72-inch screens.
Despite the swanky accommodation, City might take years to get close to United’s £150million-a-year turnover from global sponsorship deals, though chief executive Ferran Soriano says: ‘We are catching up very fast.’
Former Manchester City boss Mancini linked with Fenerbahce job
Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has been targeted by the Turkish giants Fenerbahçe.
Fenerbahçe are on the lookout for a new manager following the resignation of former manager Aykut Kocaman.
Mancini is looking to dive straight back into football management despite recently parting ways with City.
"I am a professional and I’m ready to work anywhere," Mancini said speaking to SkyItalia.
The 48-year-old Italian manager spent four seasons at Manchester City winning the Premier League title, FA Cup and Community shied during his reign.
Fenerbahçe finished runners-up in the Turkish Super League and lifted the Turkish Cup for the second year running this season.
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[/spoiler]Tottenham's 23-year-old playmaker Gareth Bale is an £80m target for Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea. Daily Mirror
But Real Madrid are confident they will win the battle for the Wales international - and have set a 15 June deadline for a deal to be done with Tottenham. Daily Star
Jose Mourinho has signed a £40m four-year deal to return as Chelsea manager after coming to London on a two-day trip this week. The 50-year-old will be unveiled next week. Sun
New Napoli manager Rafa Benitez wants to take Chelsea defender David Luiz, 26, with him to Italy. Daily Express
Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, 22, is being targeted by Atletico Madrid as a £17.5m replacement for Radamel Falcao, who has moved to Monaco Sun
Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar admits he has had negotiations about staying in England with a Premier League club, believed to be Arsenal. Daily Mirror
Arsenal could make an approach for unsettled Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, 28, in the summer. Daily Express
Aston Villa have made a £3.5m bid for Lech Poznan winger Aleksandar Tonev. But Celtic and German side Werder Bremen are also in negotiations for the 23-year-old Bulgaria international. DSSC
Newcastle and Liverpool could be ready to rekindle their interest in 22-year-old forward Bojan Krkic after AC Milan decided against keeping the Barcelona outcast. talkSHIT
Potential Everton manager Roberto Martinez has been boosted by the news that 25-year-old midfielder Marouane Fellaini has decided to commit his future to the club. Daily Mirror
Defender Matt Kilgallon, 29, could be on his way to Ipswich Town after leaving Sunderland. Shields Gazette
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup and chairman Huw Jenkins are on course for showdown talks, with Jenkins refusing to be drawn on the Dane's future. South Wales Evening Post
Chelsea sporting director Michael Emenalo has offered to resign from his role to facilitate Jose Mourinho, but his proposal was rejected by club owner Roman Abramovich. Times
David De Gea says he cannot wait to starting working with new Manchester United boss David Moyes. Metro
Montpellier have reached a four-year deal with AS Nancy striker Djamel Bakar, 24. L'Equipe
Lukas Podolski, 27, scored after just nine seconds as Germany's B team beat Ecuador 4-2. Welt
Samir Nasri, 25, has pulled out of the French national team's off-season tour of South America because of a knee injury. Le Monde
Alex Ferguson's first-ever Manchester United team sheet, from his debut loss at Oxford in 1986, is going under the auctioneer's hammer. Daily Mirror
Arsenal trio Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs appear to have a career in the cockpit lined up when they retire - after successfully landing an aeroplane. Metro
