Man City fear secret scouting database could have been HACKED by employee of Premier League rival
Etihad Stadium officials are thought to have brought in espionage experts to investigate the security breach of their online performance analysis system
In the murky world of big business, corporate espionage has always been a weapon used by the unscrupulous to make sure they stay ahead of rivals.
But Manchester City’s shocking discovery that their worldwide scouting database could have been hacked by an employee of a rival Premier League club will rock football to its core.
With new boss Manuel Pellegrini set to take charge , City believe their online Scout7 performance analysis system – holding detailed scouting reports of every player they have targeted at home and around the globe – has been infiltrated.
An investigation is now under way to uncover the full extent of the security breach at the Etihad Stadium , how it happened – and who the culprits are.
It is understood City have brought in computer espionage experts to examine any possible trails.
But it is already clear the dirty tricks discovery could have serious repercussions for the Premier League over what appears to be an astonishing breach of professional ethics.
City sporting director and former Barcelona official Txiki Begiristain, who is co-ordinating the club’s summer transfer strategy, is known to be highly disturbed by the breach and is being kept informed.
So, too, is chief executive Ferran Soriano – who was also at the Nou Camp – but it’s not thought Pellegrini, unveiled as Roberto Mancini’s successor as manager on Friday, is aware of the investigation as yet.
The club recently completed the rapid signings of Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho for £30million and Seville winger Jesus Navas in a deal that could be worth up to £24m.
Although not confirmed, it is thought those transfers may have been pushed through quickly after the club discovered the possible security breach last month.
With Premier League football a multi-billion pound business, clubs take their pursuit of new players seriously.
They like to guard against having their targets widely known by rivals, and the element of surprise in capturing a young star who could have a future value running into millions is seen as a key area.
And with player values rocketing globally, slick scouting operations are seen as vital to the on and off-pitch success of clubs who have placed a major importance on scouting and player recruitment.
Like City, many leading clubs at home and abroad use the acclaimed Scout7, described as offering “industry leading professional football solutions”.
Scout7’s website says their systems serve as many as “75 per cent of English Premier league clubs and more than 50 per cent of clubs in the top leagues of France, Germany, Netherlands and Spain”.
They also say: “Our Next Generation systems continue to deliver short, medium and long-term solutions for player scouting, recruitment and information management which provides an intelligent framework for a successful blend of subjective scouting assessment, objective data and video analysis.”
Although there is no suggestion the Scout7 operating system is in any way at fault, it is believed confidential professional and personal details of all City’s potential transfer targets may have been accessed by individuals working for a rival club.
That could have compromised possible deals and, at the very least, will have alerted others to players – both young and already established – that are on City’s scouting radar.
Although City were unwilling to comment until their investigations are complete, a Premier League chief scout told Sunday People Sport last night: “The scouting industry as a whole is a fairly small one.
“That means of course that clubs do sometimes know which players are being checked out and by which clubs.
“Football is now big business and the sums that change hands for players are getting bigger. So if you were to have concrete information on which players one of your rivals is looking at you could, theoretically, register your own interest in those players, too.
“When it comes to compiling reports on players there is a whole different level of information that goes into a dossier on a player and many clubs around Europe use the same system.
“It can range from the obvious about their technical and football ability but also to more sensitive detail about financial aspects of any possible deal or personal information about the background and character of a player.
“Having someone else – especially a rival – access that information and see which players you are looking at, which players you may buy and which ones are being monitored over a defined period would be seen as catastrophic.”
That is City’s view – and it is why the investigation is taking a high priority, with Pellegrini due for more talks with Begiristain and Soriano over more transfer business when he arrives in Manchester on June 24 to officially take charge
Brian Marwood praises attention to detail shown by new Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini
Newly appointed Chilean coach delivers qualities which were lacking in Italian predecessor
Manchester City’s academy director Brian Marwood has become the first member of the club’s hierarchy to discuss the merits of new manager Manuel Pellegrini, revealing that the Chilean clearly delivers the qualities which were felt to be lacking in his predecessor Roberto Mancini.
Pellegrini’s arrival will help City’s push to sign Spanish playmaker Isco – a deal which is still alive, contrary to suggestions that the arrival of Jesus Navas and Fernandinho have reduced the need for the 21-year-old – but Marwood said that the quality of the Chilean’s man-management was the prime asset for the club. Mancini’s own suspicion of many of the club’s English executives and ancillary staff and his desire to control transfer business made his relationship with Marwood profoundly difficult. Pellegrini, pictured, will be a de facto first team coach with director of football Txiki Begiristain driving player acquisition and he is also expected to make the dressing room a more harmonious place after the divisions of the Mancini era. Marwood also cited Pellegrini’s achievements in the Champions League, a tournament where Mancini’s record with City was demonstrably poor by comparison with the Chilean’s Villarreal reaching the 2006 semi-final against Arsenal.
“I’ve been very impressed with everything he talked about - not just in the first team,” Marwood said of Pellegrini in an interview with City’s in-house media. “You look at his record in the Champions League - with Villarreal and Malaga - it’s incredible. [Malaga] were within minutes of knocking out Borussia Dortmund [in April]. Everyone at our club knows the strength and qualities of Dortmund. We played them twice and found it very difficult.
“[There is his] man-management, too. I spoke to Roque Santa Cruz [who spent last season on loan at Malaga] and he had nothing but great things to say.”
It was significant that Pellegrini spoke repeatedly about the significance of City’s Academy in his own first interview following confirmation of his appointment. Having initially attempted to blood players like Dedryck Boyata, Mancini rarely visited the academy and afforded minimal opportunities to youth prospects.
Marwood said Pellegrini had already demonstrated an eagerness “to find out about [academy players]. I believe he will play a very important role for this club to grow into the next stage of its development. He understands all the elements of a football club, brings great experience, speaks very good English and he’ll learn the culture quickly.”
Carlos Tevez's Manchester City's move may rest on Robinho departure as AC Milan target Argentina frontman
The sale of former Manchester City striker Robinho could be the key to the future of Carlos Tevez.
Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus both want to sign the Argentine front man this summer.
Silvio Berlusconi’s Milan plan to finance the deal by selling Robinho back to Santos, his former club in Brazil, for £5million this week.
Tevez, who is dubbed El Apache by the Italian media and a long-time target for Milan, could link up in attack with his former City team-mate Mario Balotelli.
But Juventus have renewed their interest with sporting director Beppe Marotta planning to fly to Manchester to make a counter offer.
Tevez, 29, is reported to be willing to take a pay cut to around £100,000 a week to move to Serie A
Manuel’s United Rob fight
MANCHESTER CITY are ready to go head-to-head with deadly rivals United in the £25.5million chase for Borussia Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Blues have been in touch with the Polish forward’s representatives to verbally register their interest.
And City have indicated they are willing to make him one of their best-paid players with wages of around £200,000 a week.
For now, they have been told Lewandowski, 24, has his heart set on a move to Bayern Munich.
Yet both City and Real Madrid are ready to smash the personal terms on offer in Munich.
Former United boss Alex Ferguson was a huge fan of Lewandowski and the club asked to be kept informed of developments by Dortmund — but there has hardly been any contact over the summer
Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United are set to miss out on 24-year-old forward Robert Lewandowski, who will wait for his contract at Borussia Dortmund to run out next summer in order to move to his preferred destination of Bayern Munich. Daily Star
Barcelona are set to make a £9.5m move for Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny, 27, after giving up on Manchester City's Vincent Kompany, Paris St-Germain's Thiago Silva and Chelsea's David Luiz. Marca
Paris St-Germain will attempt to convince Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas to become their new boss by making an £85m bid
for 23-year-old Spurs star Gareth Bale and also trying to sign Chelsea defender David Luiz, 26. Daily Mirror
Arsenal are set to beat Juventus to the signing of Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain with a £25.5m offer. But the 25-year-old Argentine's future is not likely to be decided until a new manager is installed at the Bernabeu. Metro
Real Madrid-linked Luis Suarez has reiterated his desire to leave Liverpool, saying the fact the Reds are neither in the Champions League nor challenging for the top-flight title "disturbs" him. Daily Mirror
Arsenal want to sign Manchester United winger Nani, who has a year left on his contract at Old Trafford. The Portuguese, 26, has also been linked with Galatasaray and Monaco. Metro
Southampton have offered £7.6m for Valencia's Argentina midfielder Ever Banega, 24, and are also set to move for Celtic striker Gary Hooper, 25. Daily Mirror
Aston Villa are closing on a £1.5m deal for Sevilla's Spanish left-back Antonio Luna, 22. DSSC
West Ham have renewed their interest in Bordeaux's Senegal midfielder Ludovic Sane, 26. The Hammers considered a move for him back in January. L'Equipe
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti claims Tottenham are interested in 26-year-old Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin. Sporting Life
Newcastle are on the verge of a deal for Metz's France Under-19 striker Olivier Kemen, 17. DSSC
Portuguese forward Bebe, 22, is targeting a move to Sporting Lisbon after conceding he needs to leave Manchester United goal.com
Montpellier are targeting French striker Djibril Cisse, 31, who will return to QPR after a loan spell at Qatari club Al Gharafa at the end of this month. L'Equipe
Real Madrid midfielder Kaka, 31, could be on his way to former club Corinthians as he looks to boost his chances of featuring for Brazil at the World Cup. Corriere Dello Sport
Aston Villa are making moves to bring in Sevilla left-back Antonio Luna, 22, and Aalborg BK forward Nicklas Helenius, 22. Daily Express
Premier League newcomers Hull have joined Newcastle in the race to sign Aston Villa striker Darren Bent. Daily Mirror
Paris St-Germain have stepped up their interest in Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas by making contact with the Portuguese's agent. Guardian
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will tell the club's players that they either abide by his rules or face an exit from Stamford Bridge. DSSC
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says Mourinho felt "inferior" to Barcelona during the Portuguese's time as Real Madrid manager. Daily Star
Paris St-Germain hope Andre Villas-Boas will convince Gareth Bale, 23, to join him in the French capital. Le Figaro
Alternatively, Real Madrid general manager Jose Angel Sanchez has met the owners of Paris St-Germain to finalise a deal to sign Carlo Ancelotti as coach. Marca
Marseille's Ghana winger Andre Ayew, 23, has told French TV of his desire to play in the Premier League and of his fondness for Liverpool. TF1
Paris St-Germain have agreed a five-year deal with Lille full-back Lucas Digne, 19. Lavoix Des Sports
Mario Balotelli, 22, has promised there will be no repeat of the yellow card he was given for removing his shirt after scoring Italy's winner against Mexico in the Confederations Cup. Tuttosport
Manchester United are attempting to hijack Chelsea's £15m move for 20-year-old Vitesse Arnhem midfielder Marco van Ginkel. Express
Real Madrid sporting director Zinedine Zidane has urged 23-year-old midfielder Gareth Bale to speed up his move to the Bernabeu by asking to leave Tottenham. People
Corinthians have yet to receive a bid for their 24-year-old Brazil international Paulinho, despite the midfielder being strongly linked with Tottenham. Goal.com
Tottenham lead the race to sign 22-year-old midfielder James McCarthy from Wigan, although the relegated Latics want £20m for the Republic of Ireland international. Times
Spurs midfielder Scott Parker, 32, has emerged as a transfer target for Sunderland. Mirror
Tottenham have made an enquiry about Saint-Etienne's 23-year-old Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Mirror
The White Hart Lane club are also considering a bid for Roma's Argentina international forward Erik Lamela, 21. Telegraph
Newcastle have rubbished suggestions 27-year-old midfielder Yohan Cabaye is in Monaco undergoing a medical ahead of a £23m move to the French club. Independent
Valencia striker Roberto Soldado, 28, has said he wants to move to the Premier League this summer. Metro
Welsh rivals Swansea and Cardiff are looking to sign £12m-rated 27-year-old striker Bafetimbi Gomis from Lyon. Mirror
Striker Darren Bent, 29, could soon become a Newcastle United player - but only if he and Aston Villa lower their demands. People
Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre scrapped a trip to Brazil this weekend, instead staying in Europe to try to complete the signing of Shakhtar Donetsk's 24-year-old forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan for £20m. Bloomberg
Hull are set to seal the £1.8m capture of 31-year-old Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor from Besiktas in the next 48 hours. Sun
Former England defender and Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate, 42, has been lined up to replace Stuart Pearce as England Under-21 coach. DSSC
Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere will bring relief to club and country by returning to fitness in time for pre-season training with the Gunners on 4 July after an ankle operation. Mirror
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says his injury setbacks pushed him into a state of depression and convinced him to retire from international football. Sun
Manager Jose Mourinho has described 29-year-old Chelsea striker Fernando Torres as "so-so". Mirror
Aston Villa's new signing, centre-back Jores Okore, 20, believes he was right to turn down Chelsea's advances in January. Metro
Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote, 26, has taken legal advice and will speak to the club over their kit deal with loans company Wonga, which conflicts with his religious beliefs. DSSC
Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has vowed to fine any player who has put on as little as two kilograms in weight over the summer. Sun
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