Tuesday's B*l**x
Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 7:05 amTHE BOLLOX - ROUND-UP
More today on the transfer tussle that seems to slowly be reaching its conclusion.
We reported yesterday how Malaga’s box-of-tricks Isco was torn between City and Real Madrid and today, the general feeling seems to be the Spain Under-21 star is leaning towards (cue ridiculously long pause in the style of X Factor, BGT etc)… the Blues.
Of course, it’s all rumour and speculation but a sweep of today’s Press reports certainly suggests that Manuel Pellegrini’s move to the Etihad should give City the edge on Real Madrid.
The Sun’s Martin Blackburn certainly believes as much. He writes: "City will step up their chase for Spanish star Isco after tonight’s European Under-21 Championship final.
“And the Blues are confident of beating Real Madrid to the 21-year-old Malaga midfielder’s signature.
“Isco — who has a £30million release clause — has continually said he wants to join a club where he can be a first-team regular.
“He knows he will get that at City under his ‘footballing father’ Manuel Pellegrini — but fears he would start as a sub at the Bernabeu.”
One player who is seemingly in the dark about his future is Carlos Tevez – according to the Daily Telegraph’s Mark Ogden.
The Argentine was one of City’s outstanding performers last season but he says he doesn’t know where he will be playing next season.
Writes Ogden: "Tevez has ruled out a summer return to Argentina with Boca Juniors, despite admitting that he has yet to discover his future at City beyond the final 12 months of his contract.
“'The supporters of Boca know that I want to go back, but this year isn’t the moment,' Tevez said. 'I really don’t know anything about my future. I haven’t been told anything.'"
Looks like we've had it in the FFP stakes then ...
UEFA give Gill power to punish United's rivals... if they fall foul of financial fair play
Former Manchester United chief executive David Gill has been handed power by UEFA to recommend bans on clubs such as rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, who may find themselves in breach of new European Financial Fair Play rules.
Having stepped down from his post at Old Trafford at the end of last season to become a UEFA executive member, Gill has now been appointed chairman of the governing body’s extremely influential Club Licensing Committee.
The committee essentially decides which clubs are entitled to licences to play Champions League and Europa League football. This will become increasingly important as UEFA’s FFP rules shape the landscape of European football in the coming years.
Gill is a known advocate of FFP and one of four Barclays Premier League chiefs who proposed similar rules be implemented in English domestic football back in January.
He said 18 months ago that the new European system would only work if ‘appropriate sanctions’ were imposed on those who missed the targets. Sanctions already discussed by UEFA president Michel Platini have included fines and, for severe offences, competition bans.
Gill’s appointment will certainly raise eyebrows at clubs such as City and Chelsea who are currently striving to ensure their losses are no greater than the 845million (£38m) limit allowed by FFP across last and next season.
Both clubs have been used to viewing Gill as a rival in recent years and it will not have escaped their attention that the 55-year-old is to remain a United director and board member, despite handing over the chief executive baton to Ed Woodward.
On Monday night, a UEFA spokeswoman confirmed that Gill’s committee will have an influence over whether clubs’ finances entitle them to play in major European competition.
This is despite that fact that the Club Financial Control Body will go through individual clubs’ finances initially to see if they meet the targets set by FFP. Gill will play no role in this part of the process.
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=46136
Manchester City lead race to sign £30m Malaga midfielder Isco despite Real Madrid interest
Manchester City expect to beat Real Madrid to Isco’s signature, due to the £30 million-rated midfielder’s determination to leave Malaga for a club able to offer him regular first-team football.
Isco, who will play for Spain against Italy in the final of European Under-21 Championship in Jerusalem on Tuesday night, has confirmed that he is considering offers from City and Real and will make a decision on his future after the tournament.
With Carlo Ancelotti set to be named as Real manager in succession to Jose Mourinho, it is understood that Brazilian midfielder Kaka, who played under Ancelotti at AC Milan, will be handed a final chance to flourish at the Bernabéu after four unsuccessful years at the club.
Kaka’s reprieve and the presence of German international Mesut Ozil ensure that Isco would face two established rivals for a starting spot, and City believe that the 21-year-old is prepared to sacrifice the prestige of moving to a club of Real’s size in order to take a central role at the Etihad Stadium, under Manuel Pellegrini, his coach at Malaga.
“It’s true that I know Pellegrini already,” Isco said. “I know how he works and he has been fundamental in my career during the two years I have been at Malaga with him.
“It’s a point in favour that we worked together and that I know how he works, but it’s not definitive.
"I know that both Manchester City and Real Madrid are two great clubs. I want what is best for me and for Malaga. I am going to take a holiday [after the European Under-21 Championship], which I need, and then decide my future.”
Manchester City Star Unsure Where Future Lies
Carlos Tevez has revealed that he does not know where he will be playing his football next season.
Tevez has been linked with moves to AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, New York City FC and Boca Juniors.
He enters the final year of his contract leaving new boss Manuel Pellegrini with a decision to make over his future.
"I really don't know anything about my future," the striker told Radio Cooperativa in Argentina, where he is on holiday.
"I have to wait for news. I am on vacation and for the moment I haven't been told anything."
One place where Tevez will definitely not be playing in 2013-14, however, is former club Boca Juniors.
The 29-year-old was in attendance as his boyhood club beat Arsenal de Sarandi 1-0 on Sunday but confirmed that he will not yet rejoin the Buenos Aires outfit.
"The supporters of Boca know that I want to go back there," he explained. "But this year isn't the moment."
GOLDEN BOLLOX - 18 June 1987
Tony Adcock signs from Colchester for £175,000 – a further sign of how far the Blues had slipped in terms of available finances and attracting star names. A striker of average ability, Adcock tried hard but was never going to be the sort of player to help the club back to the Promised Land. He at least wrote his name into the history books when he scored one of three hat-tricks during an unforgettable 10-1 win over Huddersfield Town in November 1987, yet just two months later having played 15 times for the Blues, Adcock was sold on to Northampton Town.
City table two Cavani bids
Manchester City have reportedly handed Napoli two different offers to consider for striker Edinson Cavani.
The Uruguayan striker has been increasingly linked in recent weeks with a move away from his Serie A employers this summer, with it seen to be between City and Madrid to take his signature.
Reports in Italy suggest that the Premier League club have made the first moves towards the Partenopei, presenting them with two separate offers for the 26-year-old.
The first is understood by Mediaset to be a €40m cash bid with Edin Dzeko included to move the other way.
The second is believed to be a straight €55m cash offer for the player who has a buyout clause of €63m.
Real Madrid have useful weapon in bid to win over Manchester City target
Real Madrid and Manchester City have been pointed out as the two most likely destinations for Malaga's young star, Isco. The player himself has pushed these rumours and was quoted by The Guardian yesterday as saying "Yes, there are offers on the table from both clubs. Those are the two clubs that have shown the most interest. I hope to decide soon because I still have a contract with Málaga. I know that Manchester City and Real Madrid are both huge clubs. I hope that whatever I choose will be the best for me and for Málaga."
It was thought that his close relationship with Manuel Pellegrini would help Manchester City win the battle to sign him, but Real Madrid won't let go of it that easily and although Gareth Bale and Juan Mata are their pipe dreams for this summer, Isco is rather more realistic given his buy-out clause and that Malaga are not dead against a move. Isco himself let the cat out of the bag and he's certainly off somewhere, it's just a question of which club.
The La Liga side want more of a Spanish feel to their team and Isco certainly ticks that box, he's likely to be going to next year's World Cup as long as he doesn't spend a season on the bench somewhere. Real Madrid will be worried that whilst they chase their pipe dreams they could end up losing out on what is probably their most obvious target.
They do have a secret weapon in their arsenal as they prepare to battle Manchester City for the Malaga man. According to AS, Real Madrid could send Denis Cheryshev to Malaga with the option of a buy-back for the young forward. Denis Cheryshev is Russian but was brought up in Spain where his father was a professional footballer. He's earmarked as a star of the future but Real Madrid would be prepared to send him to Malaga if it meant they got Isco in return. The 20 year old is highly rated in Spain and Manchester City may have to do something similar if they want to win the race for Isco.
Euro woe: Pellegrini and Moyes both facing groups of death
City could have to negotiate a pool with Spanish champions Barcelona, French Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain and Serie A’s Napoli
City and United could both be handed groups of death in the Champions League next season.
The Blues are set to be included in the third pot of seeds when the draw for the group stages is held in Monaco on August 29.
It means – having crashed out without a win in a group including Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax last season – they could have to negotiate a pool with Spanish champions Barcelona, French Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain and Serie A’s Napoli to qualify for the knock-out stages for the first time.
The best case scenario for new boss Manuel Pellegrini’s side would be a group with FC Porto, Marseilles and Celtic, if the Scottish champions make it through the qualifiers.
Because of their recent European record, Premier League champions United are guaranteed a place in pot one alongside Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Porto, Benfica and Arsenal – if the Gunners win through their final qualifying round match.
But David Moyes could still find himself in what would be a nightmare group with big-spending Paris Saint-Germain, last season’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund and Napoli in his first season as Reds boss.
City could pay for two years of Euro disappointment with another Champions League group of death next season.
After failing to make the knock-out rounds in either of the last two seasons, Manuel Pellegrini is set for a baptism of fire in Europe with City likely to be in pot three when the draw for the group stage takes place in Monaco on August 29.
It means they will definitely face one of the competition’s top seeds which include – amongst others – Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
In pot two for last season’s draw, City were grouped with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax.
They failed to win a game, finishing bottom of the group with just three points as they came up against a Madrid side which reached the last four and a Dortmund team that went all the way to the final at Wembley, where they lost to Bayern Munich.
At the end of the season, chief executive Ferran Soriano accepted City had been handed a tough draw but hinted they should have performed better.
“I think there is no magic to this in terms of superstitions,” he said.
“It is just that it’s more difficult, the Champions League is more difficult. The level is higher. We were a bit unlucky with the group.
“You are used to playing your football against your domestic opposition and you go and play somewhere else and the team’s prepared very well for the game, so it’s more competitive.
“It’s the real measure. And this real measure we failed. So we’ve got to keep improving.”
In the short-term, last season’s failure meant they were dumped out of Europe before Christmas without even the consolation of a place in the Europa League.
But long-term, it also meant they missed the chance to significantly improve their UEFA club coefficient, the formula used to work out the seeding for each club qualified for European competition.
Teams in the Champions League are awarded four points for participating in the group stage, two points for each win in the group and one point for a draw.
Qualification for the round of 16 is rewarded with an extra four points.
Each club’s coefficient is calculated by adding the points earned over the previous five years plus 20 per cent of the member association’s coefficient – in City’s case England.
Ahead of the 2011 draw, City were ranked 42nd in UEFA’s coefficient table.
They earned 20.050 points after finishing the group with 10 points and jumped 14 places to 28th before last season’s draw.
It was enough to earn promotion into the second pot of seeds.
But a disappointing campaign last season earned only 10.285 points, moving City up just six places to 22nd.
With many of the clubs ahead of them in the coefficient table already qualified for the group stages, they will likely find themselves back in pot three this time.
But it’s not written in stone and City could still get a reprieve.
They might sit 22nd in UEFA’s table but only 18 teams ranked above them have qualified for the Champions League (Inter Milan finished ninth in their domestic league, Valencia fifth and Liverpool seventh).
Of those 18, five teams – Arsenal, Lyon, AC Milan, Schalke and Zenit St Petersburg – will have to negotiate a qualifying round to guarantee a place in the groups.
With each pot of seeds containing eight teams, City need only to be in the top 16 of those who qualify for the group stage to be seeded in pot two.
It means if three of Arsenal, Lyon, Milan, Schalke or Zenit fail to make the group stage, City would be included in pot two.
If, as expected, City have to settle for a place in pot three they could face a third straight season in a nightmare group.
With City unable to be paired with another English team, the worst case scenario would be a group with Lionel Messi’s Barcelona, big- spending French champions Paris Saint-Germain and Italian side Napoli.
But they are due a bit of luck when the balls are pulled out of the big glass bowls and, even from pot three, they could find yet themselves in a group with Porto, Marseille and Scottish champions Celtic.
If the worst does happen, City fans can take comfort from new boss Pellegrini’s Champions League record.
In 2005, his Villarreal side knocked Everton out to qualify for the group stages where they were drawn against Benfica, Lille and United.
They weren’t expected to go any further but they remained unbeaten and finished top of the group before reaching the semi-finals.
Pellegrini repeated the trick last season with Spanish side Malaga.
Grouped with Milan, Zenit St Petersburg and Anderlecht, Malaga finished with 12 points to top the group.
They beat Porto in the second round and came within 30 seconds of ousting eventual finalists Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals. City can also take heart from Dortmund’s run to the final last season.
After finishing bottom of their group in 2011, they won a group which included Real Madrid, Ajax and City last season before reaching Wembley. Premier League champions United, meanwhile, will be in the top pot of seeds for this season’s draw.
But it’s no guarantee of any easy ride.
They could still draw Paris Saint-Germain from pot two, Borussia Dortmund from pot three and Napoli from pot four.
Alternatively, they could also get Marseille, Olympiakos and Celtic. MuEN
Manuel Pellegrini Will Find Fulfillment at Manchester City by Communicating With Ghosts of Real Madrid Debacle
Manuel Pellegrini leaves behind something permanent as he heads off in search of something mythical.
The 59-year-old was hired as Manchester City’s manager Friday. His first official day on the job is June 24, but he’s already hard at work trying to fix what’s broken at City and ensure that his achievements surpass those of his predecessor, Roberto Mancini. Should he hit his targets and those of the club, the man known as the “engineer” will have built a legacy as one of the greatest soccer coaches of his era.
Pellegrini is almost universally admired by players he has coached over the last 25 years. His resume boasts numerous instances of success which he achieved both in South America and Spain. His sterling reputation in Europe was forged over the last nine years, as he took unfancied Villareal and, most recently, Malaga deep into the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League. Neither club will ever be the same now that Pellegrini has passed through, and the feelings are mutual, according to the BBC.
“I’m not leaving because of financial ambition, but because of a project that will let me feel fulfilled,” Pellegrini said in May after announcing his Malaga departure. “On Sunday, I will take charge of my last match at the Rosaleda, Everyone has the right to follow their own path.
“My coaching staff and I have separated from Malaga but our union with this city will be eternal.”
Pellegrini’s fine work at Malaga (between November 2010 and last month) convinced the City hierarchy that he was the best man to take the club forward, but he only went there in the first place after a failed, one-year spell at Real Madrid. The Spanish giant hired him on June 2, 2009 — one day after Florentino Perez assumed the club’s presidency and embarked on a second “galacticos” period. Within three months, Pellegrini would fall out with Perez over transfers, but that didn’t stop him from guiding Real Madrid to a then club record 96 points in La Liga. The exceptional league campaign was muted by a runner-up finish to Barcelona, and a Round-of-16 Champions League exit sealed Pellegrini’s fate. Real Madrid fired him after the season, replacing him with Jose Mourinho.
Pellegrini comes to City with a reputation as a Champions League specialist. In 2006, he took one modest club (Villareal) to the semifinals of Europe’s elite club competition and came within two minutes of doing it again in 2012-13 (Malaga). His three-year contract with City gives him little time to stutter, but he should be successful if he applies the methods that saw Real Madrid rack up a record points tally. A league campaign in the mold of 2009-10, coupled with Champions League elimination in the Round of 16 would be more than enough to merit a second season, and Pellegrini’s teams are known to grow significantly in Year 2.
The factors Pellegrini needs to flourish at City are already in place. He seems to be marching lockstep with City CEO Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain. The three held a number of strategy meetings before Pellegrini’s hiring was announced. City also secured the signatures of two of the new manager’s transfer targets, Fernandinho and Jesus Navas, for a combined £46 million ($72.2 million). An additional £90 million ($141 million) worth of reinforcements could be on the way in the form of Isco, Pepe and Edinson Cavani.
If there is or will be early friction between Pellegrini and his bosses, there are no early signs. The incoming manager chose the City project after speaking to Chelsa, PSG and an unnamed Russian club. City has considered top managers from England, Europe and beyond in its search for Mancini’s successor. Yet, Pellegrini’s commitment to integrating the best players from the club’s youth academy into the first team might have given him the edge over other candidates and sealed the union with City.
“Manuel is a hugely experienced and successful manager with a proven track record,” chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said. “We have been greatly impressed throughout the selection process by his philosophy, his attitude and his commitment to the long-term development of Manchester City. I am delighted that he has joined us.”
Pellegrini’s managerial style should be a refreshing change for City’s players. Mancini’s prickly personality cost him the support of many City stars as well as the favor of his bosses. Their collective determination to take City forward in the early days of Pellegrini’s tenure will undoubtedly be higher than it was during the last days of Mancini’s reign, now that managerial uncertainty is no longer an issue.
On April 6, Pellegrini showed a herculean level of selflessness when he led Malaga in a league game against Real Sociedad. His father died earlier that day, but he did his job and only informed his players of his father’s passing after the postgame news conference. The gesture resonated in the Malaga dressing room, cementing the bond between Pellegrini and his players.
“He will be with us tomorrow and we will try everything to advance for him,” defender Martin Demichelis said of Malaga’s Champions League quarterfinal game against Borussia Dortmund, which followed the loss to Real Sociedad.
“We would like to win this one for him. First our coach did not tell us about his father passing away, that shows his greatness.”
Perhaps Demichelis delivered his assessment in such a matter-of-fact manner because his manager’s grace didn’t surprise him. After all, Pellegrini led Malaga to European qualification (for 2013-14) while a cloud of uncertainty lingered over the team. Malaga’s owners withdrew funding for the team and failed to pay players, coaches and other staff for large swaths of the campaign.
Should Pellegrini’s personality rub City’s players like it did Malaga’s, getting them to play how he wants them to should not be a problem. Pellegrini’s teams are usually well-organized, intelligent and play with purpose. They strike a delicate balance between attack and defense, which makes them hard to beat on an off day and frightening when everything clicks. Technical players like David Silva, Samir Nasri and Carlos Tevez tend to flourish in Pellegrini’s system, so the trio could enjoy resurgent campaigns next season. City’s squad is teeming with quality and more is on the way. With Manchester United and Chelsea in a period of upheaval and Arsenal trying to close the gap, City is perfectly poised to wrest domestic dominance away from United in 2013-14.
Mancini led City to FA Cup and Premier League glory in his three-and-a-half years in charge. Although he ended the club’s decades-long wait for a major trophy, there remains a sense that City underachieved with the Italian in charge. This feeling was merely crystallized by City’s repeated Champions League stumbles.
Pellegrini arrives at the Etihad Stadium on a mission to put City on sound footing in the Champions League. The key to success could lie in the one blemish on his resume. While many point to that season as a failure, Real Madrid’s league campaign — the work the team does on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis — suggests something far different.
Pellegrini wasn’t fired because he didn’t or couldn’t do the job of managing one of soccer’s elite clubs. He was fired for political reasons, as Perez was determined to hire a “galactico” manager to lead the players the club bought on his watch. Whatever went wrong between Pellegrini and Perez — the two reportedly stopped speaking in August 2009, nine months before Pellegrini was fired — shouldn’t rear its ugly head again at City. If that remains the case, Pellegrini will almost certainly win his first major trophy in Europe and find the “fulfillment” he seeks. The matter of hitting City’s target of five trophies in five years should be a mere formality.
Kop Legend Hails The Signing Of Kolo Toure
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has hailed the signing of Kolo Toure from Manchester City on a free transfer.
The Reds fan favourite played against the Ivory Coast centre-back during spells with Leeds United and Manchester City, and is adamant Toure will be an excellent addition to the Reds' backline.
"I've played against him numerous times and he is a fantastic player," Fowler told the club’s official website.
"I'm sure coming to a new club will spur him on that little bit more and he will want to do well. He will want to play. I think he will try hard in training and a little bit of pride will set in.
"You look at his performances over the years for Arsenal and Manchester City - he has been magnificent in the Premier League. Let's hope that he comes to Liverpool and carries on that magnificent form."
"Toure's been a fantastic player. His experience will be vital for Liverpool, especially after losing Carra," Fowler continued.
"Carra was unbelievable for Liverpool and, if anything, he was probably Liverpool's best defender last year. He will be a big miss.
"I don't know if Kolo Toure will play all of the games, but Liverpool as a team and a squad certainly needed a lot more numbers. Brendan [Rodgers] is doing that right now.
"Toure has been there and worn the T-shirt in the Premier League so I think his signing is absolutely magnificent."
WAG OF THE DAY
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Liverpool will tell Luis Suarez, 26, he has to put in a transfer request if he is to leave the club. DSSC
Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 24, is set to arrive at Anfield for a medical ahead of a £23m move to Liverpool this week. Daily Mirror
Liverpool will fund that transfer with the sale of striker Andy Carroll, 24, to West Ham. The Reds have been forced to compromise over the fee for the England international to generate funds for Mkhitaryan. Times
Carroll will undergo a medical with the Upton Park club on Tuesday after agreeing a six-year £100,000-a-week deal to turn his loan switch from the Reds into a permanent move. Daily Telegraph
Arsenal are favourites to sign Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, 25, after Juventus switched their attention to Manchester City's Carlos Tevez, 29. London Evening Standard
The Gunners are also interested in signing Spain Under-21 and Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Asier Illarramendi, 23. DSSC
Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny will reject the advances of Barcelona and Bayern Munich to stay with the north London club. Sun
Chelsea are being quoted a £38m price if they want to prise former midfielder Nemanja Matic, 20, away from Benfica. Matic left the Blues to join the Portuguese club as part of the deal which brought David Luiz, 26, the other way in January 2011. Daily Star
Tottenham want to sign Corinthians midfielder Paulinho, 24, Internacional striker Leandro Damiao, 23, and Barcelona striker David Villa, 31. Daily Mirror
Sunderland will replace Liverpool-bound keeper Simon Mignolet with PSV Eindhoven's Joroen Zoet, 22, for £1m. Daily Star
Wolves have made another enquiry about out-of-contract Burnley striker Martin Paterson, 26. Express & Star
Manchester United's veteran winger Ryan Giggs, 39, will travel to Turkey this week for an intensive eight-day assignment at the Under-20 World Cup finals, as he attempts to secure a Uefa Pro Licence coaching badge. Times
Joe Kinnear, who claims he has been appointed the Newcastle director of football, will have an office at the Magpies training ground and travel to matches with the team. He also claims Newcastle manager Alan Pardew thinks his arrival at St James' Park is "great news". Daily Mirror
Pardew will tell Kinnear he is in sole control of the first team when the pair meet. Independent
Tottenham are confident they can persuade manager Andre Villas-Boas, 35, to reject overtures from Paris St-Germain and remain at White Hart Lane. the Guardian
Leicester are poised to name Sir Dave Richards as their new chairman. The 70-year-old previously performed the same role for the Premier League. Daily Telegraph
French midfielder Remy Cabella, 23, has said he will stay at Montpellier next season, despite interest from Lille and Olympique Marseille. France Football
Juventus have made 29-year-old Federico Peluso's loan spell from Atalanta permanent for around £4.4m in their first official signing of the season. Tuttosport
German side Schalke have bought Christian Clemens, 21, from FC Koln on a four-year deal for around £2.4m. Kicker
New Aston Villa signing Jores Okore, 20, has admitted he fell asleep during his medical with the club. Birmingham Mail
Bonus WAG
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More today on the transfer tussle that seems to slowly be reaching its conclusion.
We reported yesterday how Malaga’s box-of-tricks Isco was torn between City and Real Madrid and today, the general feeling seems to be the Spain Under-21 star is leaning towards (cue ridiculously long pause in the style of X Factor, BGT etc)… the Blues.
Of course, it’s all rumour and speculation but a sweep of today’s Press reports certainly suggests that Manuel Pellegrini’s move to the Etihad should give City the edge on Real Madrid.
The Sun’s Martin Blackburn certainly believes as much. He writes: "City will step up their chase for Spanish star Isco after tonight’s European Under-21 Championship final.
“And the Blues are confident of beating Real Madrid to the 21-year-old Malaga midfielder’s signature.
“Isco — who has a £30million release clause — has continually said he wants to join a club where he can be a first-team regular.
“He knows he will get that at City under his ‘footballing father’ Manuel Pellegrini — but fears he would start as a sub at the Bernabeu.”
One player who is seemingly in the dark about his future is Carlos Tevez – according to the Daily Telegraph’s Mark Ogden.
The Argentine was one of City’s outstanding performers last season but he says he doesn’t know where he will be playing next season.
Writes Ogden: "Tevez has ruled out a summer return to Argentina with Boca Juniors, despite admitting that he has yet to discover his future at City beyond the final 12 months of his contract.
“'The supporters of Boca know that I want to go back, but this year isn’t the moment,' Tevez said. 'I really don’t know anything about my future. I haven’t been told anything.'"
Looks like we've had it in the FFP stakes then ...
UEFA give Gill power to punish United's rivals... if they fall foul of financial fair play
Former Manchester United chief executive David Gill has been handed power by UEFA to recommend bans on clubs such as rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, who may find themselves in breach of new European Financial Fair Play rules.
Having stepped down from his post at Old Trafford at the end of last season to become a UEFA executive member, Gill has now been appointed chairman of the governing body’s extremely influential Club Licensing Committee.
The committee essentially decides which clubs are entitled to licences to play Champions League and Europa League football. This will become increasingly important as UEFA’s FFP rules shape the landscape of European football in the coming years.
Gill is a known advocate of FFP and one of four Barclays Premier League chiefs who proposed similar rules be implemented in English domestic football back in January.
He said 18 months ago that the new European system would only work if ‘appropriate sanctions’ were imposed on those who missed the targets. Sanctions already discussed by UEFA president Michel Platini have included fines and, for severe offences, competition bans.
Gill’s appointment will certainly raise eyebrows at clubs such as City and Chelsea who are currently striving to ensure their losses are no greater than the 845million (£38m) limit allowed by FFP across last and next season.
Both clubs have been used to viewing Gill as a rival in recent years and it will not have escaped their attention that the 55-year-old is to remain a United director and board member, despite handing over the chief executive baton to Ed Woodward.
On Monday night, a UEFA spokeswoman confirmed that Gill’s committee will have an influence over whether clubs’ finances entitle them to play in major European competition.
This is despite that fact that the Club Financial Control Body will go through individual clubs’ finances initially to see if they meet the targets set by FFP. Gill will play no role in this part of the process.
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=46136
Manchester City lead race to sign £30m Malaga midfielder Isco despite Real Madrid interest
Manchester City expect to beat Real Madrid to Isco’s signature, due to the £30 million-rated midfielder’s determination to leave Malaga for a club able to offer him regular first-team football.
Isco, who will play for Spain against Italy in the final of European Under-21 Championship in Jerusalem on Tuesday night, has confirmed that he is considering offers from City and Real and will make a decision on his future after the tournament.
With Carlo Ancelotti set to be named as Real manager in succession to Jose Mourinho, it is understood that Brazilian midfielder Kaka, who played under Ancelotti at AC Milan, will be handed a final chance to flourish at the Bernabéu after four unsuccessful years at the club.
Kaka’s reprieve and the presence of German international Mesut Ozil ensure that Isco would face two established rivals for a starting spot, and City believe that the 21-year-old is prepared to sacrifice the prestige of moving to a club of Real’s size in order to take a central role at the Etihad Stadium, under Manuel Pellegrini, his coach at Malaga.
“It’s true that I know Pellegrini already,” Isco said. “I know how he works and he has been fundamental in my career during the two years I have been at Malaga with him.
“It’s a point in favour that we worked together and that I know how he works, but it’s not definitive.
"I know that both Manchester City and Real Madrid are two great clubs. I want what is best for me and for Malaga. I am going to take a holiday [after the European Under-21 Championship], which I need, and then decide my future.”
Manchester City Star Unsure Where Future Lies
Carlos Tevez has revealed that he does not know where he will be playing his football next season.
Tevez has been linked with moves to AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, New York City FC and Boca Juniors.
He enters the final year of his contract leaving new boss Manuel Pellegrini with a decision to make over his future.
"I really don't know anything about my future," the striker told Radio Cooperativa in Argentina, where he is on holiday.
"I have to wait for news. I am on vacation and for the moment I haven't been told anything."
One place where Tevez will definitely not be playing in 2013-14, however, is former club Boca Juniors.
The 29-year-old was in attendance as his boyhood club beat Arsenal de Sarandi 1-0 on Sunday but confirmed that he will not yet rejoin the Buenos Aires outfit.
"The supporters of Boca know that I want to go back there," he explained. "But this year isn't the moment."
GOLDEN BOLLOX - 18 June 1987
Tony Adcock signs from Colchester for £175,000 – a further sign of how far the Blues had slipped in terms of available finances and attracting star names. A striker of average ability, Adcock tried hard but was never going to be the sort of player to help the club back to the Promised Land. He at least wrote his name into the history books when he scored one of three hat-tricks during an unforgettable 10-1 win over Huddersfield Town in November 1987, yet just two months later having played 15 times for the Blues, Adcock was sold on to Northampton Town.
City table two Cavani bids
Manchester City have reportedly handed Napoli two different offers to consider for striker Edinson Cavani.
The Uruguayan striker has been increasingly linked in recent weeks with a move away from his Serie A employers this summer, with it seen to be between City and Madrid to take his signature.
Reports in Italy suggest that the Premier League club have made the first moves towards the Partenopei, presenting them with two separate offers for the 26-year-old.
The first is understood by Mediaset to be a €40m cash bid with Edin Dzeko included to move the other way.
The second is believed to be a straight €55m cash offer for the player who has a buyout clause of €63m.
Real Madrid have useful weapon in bid to win over Manchester City target
Real Madrid and Manchester City have been pointed out as the two most likely destinations for Malaga's young star, Isco. The player himself has pushed these rumours and was quoted by The Guardian yesterday as saying "Yes, there are offers on the table from both clubs. Those are the two clubs that have shown the most interest. I hope to decide soon because I still have a contract with Málaga. I know that Manchester City and Real Madrid are both huge clubs. I hope that whatever I choose will be the best for me and for Málaga."
It was thought that his close relationship with Manuel Pellegrini would help Manchester City win the battle to sign him, but Real Madrid won't let go of it that easily and although Gareth Bale and Juan Mata are their pipe dreams for this summer, Isco is rather more realistic given his buy-out clause and that Malaga are not dead against a move. Isco himself let the cat out of the bag and he's certainly off somewhere, it's just a question of which club.
The La Liga side want more of a Spanish feel to their team and Isco certainly ticks that box, he's likely to be going to next year's World Cup as long as he doesn't spend a season on the bench somewhere. Real Madrid will be worried that whilst they chase their pipe dreams they could end up losing out on what is probably their most obvious target.
They do have a secret weapon in their arsenal as they prepare to battle Manchester City for the Malaga man. According to AS, Real Madrid could send Denis Cheryshev to Malaga with the option of a buy-back for the young forward. Denis Cheryshev is Russian but was brought up in Spain where his father was a professional footballer. He's earmarked as a star of the future but Real Madrid would be prepared to send him to Malaga if it meant they got Isco in return. The 20 year old is highly rated in Spain and Manchester City may have to do something similar if they want to win the race for Isco.
Euro woe: Pellegrini and Moyes both facing groups of death
City could have to negotiate a pool with Spanish champions Barcelona, French Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain and Serie A’s Napoli
City and United could both be handed groups of death in the Champions League next season.
The Blues are set to be included in the third pot of seeds when the draw for the group stages is held in Monaco on August 29.
It means – having crashed out without a win in a group including Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax last season – they could have to negotiate a pool with Spanish champions Barcelona, French Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain and Serie A’s Napoli to qualify for the knock-out stages for the first time.
The best case scenario for new boss Manuel Pellegrini’s side would be a group with FC Porto, Marseilles and Celtic, if the Scottish champions make it through the qualifiers.
Because of their recent European record, Premier League champions United are guaranteed a place in pot one alongside Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Porto, Benfica and Arsenal – if the Gunners win through their final qualifying round match.
But David Moyes could still find himself in what would be a nightmare group with big-spending Paris Saint-Germain, last season’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund and Napoli in his first season as Reds boss.
City could pay for two years of Euro disappointment with another Champions League group of death next season.
After failing to make the knock-out rounds in either of the last two seasons, Manuel Pellegrini is set for a baptism of fire in Europe with City likely to be in pot three when the draw for the group stage takes place in Monaco on August 29.
It means they will definitely face one of the competition’s top seeds which include – amongst others – Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
In pot two for last season’s draw, City were grouped with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax.
They failed to win a game, finishing bottom of the group with just three points as they came up against a Madrid side which reached the last four and a Dortmund team that went all the way to the final at Wembley, where they lost to Bayern Munich.
At the end of the season, chief executive Ferran Soriano accepted City had been handed a tough draw but hinted they should have performed better.
“I think there is no magic to this in terms of superstitions,” he said.
“It is just that it’s more difficult, the Champions League is more difficult. The level is higher. We were a bit unlucky with the group.
“You are used to playing your football against your domestic opposition and you go and play somewhere else and the team’s prepared very well for the game, so it’s more competitive.
“It’s the real measure. And this real measure we failed. So we’ve got to keep improving.”
In the short-term, last season’s failure meant they were dumped out of Europe before Christmas without even the consolation of a place in the Europa League.
But long-term, it also meant they missed the chance to significantly improve their UEFA club coefficient, the formula used to work out the seeding for each club qualified for European competition.
Teams in the Champions League are awarded four points for participating in the group stage, two points for each win in the group and one point for a draw.
Qualification for the round of 16 is rewarded with an extra four points.
Each club’s coefficient is calculated by adding the points earned over the previous five years plus 20 per cent of the member association’s coefficient – in City’s case England.
Ahead of the 2011 draw, City were ranked 42nd in UEFA’s coefficient table.
They earned 20.050 points after finishing the group with 10 points and jumped 14 places to 28th before last season’s draw.
It was enough to earn promotion into the second pot of seeds.
But a disappointing campaign last season earned only 10.285 points, moving City up just six places to 22nd.
With many of the clubs ahead of them in the coefficient table already qualified for the group stages, they will likely find themselves back in pot three this time.
But it’s not written in stone and City could still get a reprieve.
They might sit 22nd in UEFA’s table but only 18 teams ranked above them have qualified for the Champions League (Inter Milan finished ninth in their domestic league, Valencia fifth and Liverpool seventh).
Of those 18, five teams – Arsenal, Lyon, AC Milan, Schalke and Zenit St Petersburg – will have to negotiate a qualifying round to guarantee a place in the groups.
With each pot of seeds containing eight teams, City need only to be in the top 16 of those who qualify for the group stage to be seeded in pot two.
It means if three of Arsenal, Lyon, Milan, Schalke or Zenit fail to make the group stage, City would be included in pot two.
If, as expected, City have to settle for a place in pot three they could face a third straight season in a nightmare group.
With City unable to be paired with another English team, the worst case scenario would be a group with Lionel Messi’s Barcelona, big- spending French champions Paris Saint-Germain and Italian side Napoli.
But they are due a bit of luck when the balls are pulled out of the big glass bowls and, even from pot three, they could find yet themselves in a group with Porto, Marseille and Scottish champions Celtic.
If the worst does happen, City fans can take comfort from new boss Pellegrini’s Champions League record.
In 2005, his Villarreal side knocked Everton out to qualify for the group stages where they were drawn against Benfica, Lille and United.
They weren’t expected to go any further but they remained unbeaten and finished top of the group before reaching the semi-finals.
Pellegrini repeated the trick last season with Spanish side Malaga.
Grouped with Milan, Zenit St Petersburg and Anderlecht, Malaga finished with 12 points to top the group.
They beat Porto in the second round and came within 30 seconds of ousting eventual finalists Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals. City can also take heart from Dortmund’s run to the final last season.
After finishing bottom of their group in 2011, they won a group which included Real Madrid, Ajax and City last season before reaching Wembley. Premier League champions United, meanwhile, will be in the top pot of seeds for this season’s draw.
But it’s no guarantee of any easy ride.
They could still draw Paris Saint-Germain from pot two, Borussia Dortmund from pot three and Napoli from pot four.
Alternatively, they could also get Marseille, Olympiakos and Celtic. MuEN
Manuel Pellegrini Will Find Fulfillment at Manchester City by Communicating With Ghosts of Real Madrid Debacle
Manuel Pellegrini leaves behind something permanent as he heads off in search of something mythical.
The 59-year-old was hired as Manchester City’s manager Friday. His first official day on the job is June 24, but he’s already hard at work trying to fix what’s broken at City and ensure that his achievements surpass those of his predecessor, Roberto Mancini. Should he hit his targets and those of the club, the man known as the “engineer” will have built a legacy as one of the greatest soccer coaches of his era.
Pellegrini is almost universally admired by players he has coached over the last 25 years. His resume boasts numerous instances of success which he achieved both in South America and Spain. His sterling reputation in Europe was forged over the last nine years, as he took unfancied Villareal and, most recently, Malaga deep into the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League. Neither club will ever be the same now that Pellegrini has passed through, and the feelings are mutual, according to the BBC.
“I’m not leaving because of financial ambition, but because of a project that will let me feel fulfilled,” Pellegrini said in May after announcing his Malaga departure. “On Sunday, I will take charge of my last match at the Rosaleda, Everyone has the right to follow their own path.
“My coaching staff and I have separated from Malaga but our union with this city will be eternal.”
Pellegrini’s fine work at Malaga (between November 2010 and last month) convinced the City hierarchy that he was the best man to take the club forward, but he only went there in the first place after a failed, one-year spell at Real Madrid. The Spanish giant hired him on June 2, 2009 — one day after Florentino Perez assumed the club’s presidency and embarked on a second “galacticos” period. Within three months, Pellegrini would fall out with Perez over transfers, but that didn’t stop him from guiding Real Madrid to a then club record 96 points in La Liga. The exceptional league campaign was muted by a runner-up finish to Barcelona, and a Round-of-16 Champions League exit sealed Pellegrini’s fate. Real Madrid fired him after the season, replacing him with Jose Mourinho.
Pellegrini comes to City with a reputation as a Champions League specialist. In 2006, he took one modest club (Villareal) to the semifinals of Europe’s elite club competition and came within two minutes of doing it again in 2012-13 (Malaga). His three-year contract with City gives him little time to stutter, but he should be successful if he applies the methods that saw Real Madrid rack up a record points tally. A league campaign in the mold of 2009-10, coupled with Champions League elimination in the Round of 16 would be more than enough to merit a second season, and Pellegrini’s teams are known to grow significantly in Year 2.
The factors Pellegrini needs to flourish at City are already in place. He seems to be marching lockstep with City CEO Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain. The three held a number of strategy meetings before Pellegrini’s hiring was announced. City also secured the signatures of two of the new manager’s transfer targets, Fernandinho and Jesus Navas, for a combined £46 million ($72.2 million). An additional £90 million ($141 million) worth of reinforcements could be on the way in the form of Isco, Pepe and Edinson Cavani.
If there is or will be early friction between Pellegrini and his bosses, there are no early signs. The incoming manager chose the City project after speaking to Chelsa, PSG and an unnamed Russian club. City has considered top managers from England, Europe and beyond in its search for Mancini’s successor. Yet, Pellegrini’s commitment to integrating the best players from the club’s youth academy into the first team might have given him the edge over other candidates and sealed the union with City.
“Manuel is a hugely experienced and successful manager with a proven track record,” chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said. “We have been greatly impressed throughout the selection process by his philosophy, his attitude and his commitment to the long-term development of Manchester City. I am delighted that he has joined us.”
Pellegrini’s managerial style should be a refreshing change for City’s players. Mancini’s prickly personality cost him the support of many City stars as well as the favor of his bosses. Their collective determination to take City forward in the early days of Pellegrini’s tenure will undoubtedly be higher than it was during the last days of Mancini’s reign, now that managerial uncertainty is no longer an issue.
On April 6, Pellegrini showed a herculean level of selflessness when he led Malaga in a league game against Real Sociedad. His father died earlier that day, but he did his job and only informed his players of his father’s passing after the postgame news conference. The gesture resonated in the Malaga dressing room, cementing the bond between Pellegrini and his players.
“He will be with us tomorrow and we will try everything to advance for him,” defender Martin Demichelis said of Malaga’s Champions League quarterfinal game against Borussia Dortmund, which followed the loss to Real Sociedad.
“We would like to win this one for him. First our coach did not tell us about his father passing away, that shows his greatness.”
Perhaps Demichelis delivered his assessment in such a matter-of-fact manner because his manager’s grace didn’t surprise him. After all, Pellegrini led Malaga to European qualification (for 2013-14) while a cloud of uncertainty lingered over the team. Malaga’s owners withdrew funding for the team and failed to pay players, coaches and other staff for large swaths of the campaign.
Should Pellegrini’s personality rub City’s players like it did Malaga’s, getting them to play how he wants them to should not be a problem. Pellegrini’s teams are usually well-organized, intelligent and play with purpose. They strike a delicate balance between attack and defense, which makes them hard to beat on an off day and frightening when everything clicks. Technical players like David Silva, Samir Nasri and Carlos Tevez tend to flourish in Pellegrini’s system, so the trio could enjoy resurgent campaigns next season. City’s squad is teeming with quality and more is on the way. With Manchester United and Chelsea in a period of upheaval and Arsenal trying to close the gap, City is perfectly poised to wrest domestic dominance away from United in 2013-14.
Mancini led City to FA Cup and Premier League glory in his three-and-a-half years in charge. Although he ended the club’s decades-long wait for a major trophy, there remains a sense that City underachieved with the Italian in charge. This feeling was merely crystallized by City’s repeated Champions League stumbles.
Pellegrini arrives at the Etihad Stadium on a mission to put City on sound footing in the Champions League. The key to success could lie in the one blemish on his resume. While many point to that season as a failure, Real Madrid’s league campaign — the work the team does on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis — suggests something far different.
Pellegrini wasn’t fired because he didn’t or couldn’t do the job of managing one of soccer’s elite clubs. He was fired for political reasons, as Perez was determined to hire a “galactico” manager to lead the players the club bought on his watch. Whatever went wrong between Pellegrini and Perez — the two reportedly stopped speaking in August 2009, nine months before Pellegrini was fired — shouldn’t rear its ugly head again at City. If that remains the case, Pellegrini will almost certainly win his first major trophy in Europe and find the “fulfillment” he seeks. The matter of hitting City’s target of five trophies in five years should be a mere formality.
Kop Legend Hails The Signing Of Kolo Toure
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has hailed the signing of Kolo Toure from Manchester City on a free transfer.
The Reds fan favourite played against the Ivory Coast centre-back during spells with Leeds United and Manchester City, and is adamant Toure will be an excellent addition to the Reds' backline.
"I've played against him numerous times and he is a fantastic player," Fowler told the club’s official website.
"I'm sure coming to a new club will spur him on that little bit more and he will want to do well. He will want to play. I think he will try hard in training and a little bit of pride will set in.
"You look at his performances over the years for Arsenal and Manchester City - he has been magnificent in the Premier League. Let's hope that he comes to Liverpool and carries on that magnificent form."
"Toure's been a fantastic player. His experience will be vital for Liverpool, especially after losing Carra," Fowler continued.
"Carra was unbelievable for Liverpool and, if anything, he was probably Liverpool's best defender last year. He will be a big miss.
"I don't know if Kolo Toure will play all of the games, but Liverpool as a team and a squad certainly needed a lot more numbers. Brendan [Rodgers] is doing that right now.
"Toure has been there and worn the T-shirt in the Premier League so I think his signing is absolutely magnificent."
WAG OF THE DAY
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[/spoiler]Liverpool will tell Luis Suarez, 26, he has to put in a transfer request if he is to leave the club. DSSC
Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 24, is set to arrive at Anfield for a medical ahead of a £23m move to Liverpool this week. Daily Mirror
Liverpool will fund that transfer with the sale of striker Andy Carroll, 24, to West Ham. The Reds have been forced to compromise over the fee for the England international to generate funds for Mkhitaryan. Times
Carroll will undergo a medical with the Upton Park club on Tuesday after agreeing a six-year £100,000-a-week deal to turn his loan switch from the Reds into a permanent move. Daily Telegraph
Arsenal are favourites to sign Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, 25, after Juventus switched their attention to Manchester City's Carlos Tevez, 29. London Evening Standard
The Gunners are also interested in signing Spain Under-21 and Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Asier Illarramendi, 23. DSSC
Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny will reject the advances of Barcelona and Bayern Munich to stay with the north London club. Sun
Chelsea are being quoted a £38m price if they want to prise former midfielder Nemanja Matic, 20, away from Benfica. Matic left the Blues to join the Portuguese club as part of the deal which brought David Luiz, 26, the other way in January 2011. Daily Star
Tottenham want to sign Corinthians midfielder Paulinho, 24, Internacional striker Leandro Damiao, 23, and Barcelona striker David Villa, 31. Daily Mirror
Sunderland will replace Liverpool-bound keeper Simon Mignolet with PSV Eindhoven's Joroen Zoet, 22, for £1m. Daily Star
Wolves have made another enquiry about out-of-contract Burnley striker Martin Paterson, 26. Express & Star
Manchester United's veteran winger Ryan Giggs, 39, will travel to Turkey this week for an intensive eight-day assignment at the Under-20 World Cup finals, as he attempts to secure a Uefa Pro Licence coaching badge. Times
Joe Kinnear, who claims he has been appointed the Newcastle director of football, will have an office at the Magpies training ground and travel to matches with the team. He also claims Newcastle manager Alan Pardew thinks his arrival at St James' Park is "great news". Daily Mirror
Pardew will tell Kinnear he is in sole control of the first team when the pair meet. Independent
Tottenham are confident they can persuade manager Andre Villas-Boas, 35, to reject overtures from Paris St-Germain and remain at White Hart Lane. the Guardian
Leicester are poised to name Sir Dave Richards as their new chairman. The 70-year-old previously performed the same role for the Premier League. Daily Telegraph
French midfielder Remy Cabella, 23, has said he will stay at Montpellier next season, despite interest from Lille and Olympique Marseille. France Football
Juventus have made 29-year-old Federico Peluso's loan spell from Atalanta permanent for around £4.4m in their first official signing of the season. Tuttosport
German side Schalke have bought Christian Clemens, 21, from FC Koln on a four-year deal for around £2.4m. Kicker
New Aston Villa signing Jores Okore, 20, has admitted he fell asleep during his medical with the club. Birmingham Mail
Bonus WAG
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