Fifa investigation into Manchester City's conduct of youth players remains 'ongoing'
An investigation into Manchester City’s conduct involving youth players is “ongoing”, Fifa has confirmed.
A day after it emerged Chelsea were being probed over a potential breach of the governing body’s regulations, City were revealed to be under similar scrutiny.
The club denied any knowledge of the investigation on Wednesday and questioned whether it was the same inquiry into their recruitment of Benjamin Garre from Velez Sarsfield, which was exclusively revealed by Telegraph Sport a year ago.
City were cleared by Fifa of “trafficking” the youngster, although the outcome of Velez’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is still pending.
The governing body refused to confirm whether the “ongoing” investigation related to a separate matter, while City did not responded to a request for them to seek clarification.
[i]Man City have also been investigated for their the recruitment of Benjamin Garre[/i]
The club were found guilty of tapping-up two schoolboys by the Premier League in May and were banned from signing academy players from English sides for at least one year, as well as being fined £300,000.
Fifa’s investigation into Chelsea’s pursuit of foreign players under the age of 18 is its third in eight years.
The club overturned a transfer ban imposed in 2009 over their 2007 recruitment of Gael Kakuta from Lens, while last year saw them probed about Bertrand Traore’s move to Stamford Bridge after pictures emerged of the midfielder playing for them before he had international clearance.
Atletico Madrid are currently under a transfer embargo for breaching rules over the signing of minors, a decision that was upheld on appeal to CAS.
Real Madrid were also banned from recruiting players last year, with their punishment later reduced from two transfer windows to one
Any potential breach of the rules by Chelsea was described as less serious than that by their Spanish rivals.
A club spokesman said: “Chelsea FC complies with all Fifa statutes and regulations when recruiting players.”
Liverpool and have also been punished this year over the tapping-up of a Stoke City schoolboy.
On Wednesday, they and the Premier League finally agreed to pay the private school fees and compensation of the boy, who had been left unable to join another academy until Stoke were given £49,000, with his parents saddled with thousands of pounds of debt in school fees.
Pep Guardiola plays down fears over Ilkay Gundogan injury as Leroy Sane secures Manchester City's Carabao Cup progress at West Brom
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola praised match-winner Leroy Sane and eased any concerns over Ilkay Gundogan's new injury scare.
Forward Sane hit a double to give City a 2-1 Carabao Cup win at West Brom on Wednesday and book a fourth round home tie with Wolves.
But there were initial fears for Gundogan when he limped off following a challenge from Claudio Yacob on his first start since December after recovering from a serious knee injury.
Gundogan will have a scan on his left knee - the opposite one than he injured before - and was clearly in pain but Guardiola expects him back soon.
He said: 'I think it's not serious, it's not eight months, but a little injury. Unfortunately the action is tough. He will be back soon hopefully.
'Tomorrow we will make a test. The physio and doctor told me it's not big issue.
'I'll have to review (Yacob's tackle). It's from behind but I don't know if he touched the ball or not.
'I suffer for him. He was on the grass and at that moment you think the wrong situation. You can't imagine, for eight months, to be fighting every day alone.'
Sane's third-minute strike looked like opening the floodgates and starting a victory procession as City dominated the first half at The Hawthorns.
Yacob levelled with his first goal for four years with 18 minutes left but Sane won it five minutes later.
Guardiola added: 'He played so well, not just in terms of goals - his second was fantastic - but how he kept the ball. He made a really good performance, not just the goals but in other issues he was outstanding.'
Guardiola was also delighted with a home tie after previously playing all of his League Cup games away.
He added: 'Thank you so much to the guy who pick up the ball (in the draw). I don't know who it was but I want to send him a barrel of good red wine.'
Albion's Hal Robson-Kanu should have taken the tie to extra-time but hit the post in injury time with just Claudio Bravo to beat.
Boss Tony Pulis said: 'Every centre forward will miss chances, even the best ones, from that position. I'm not going to be critical.
'We were creating opportunities against one of the top teams in Europe. They made a few changes but when you look at the changes it's laughable really.'
Gary Neville predicts the title will return to Manchester United or Manchester City this season
The former United full-back believes Manchester's dry period will end in May
Gary Neville is confident that the Premier League title will make its way back to Manchester in May, after impressive starts to the new season by both of the city’s clubs.
Manchester United and Manchester City are level on points, goal difference and goals scored at the top of the table, meaning only alphabetical order separates the historic rivals after five games of the new campaign.
Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola experienced underwhelming first years at United and City respectively but Neville believes both sides have progressed since the end of last season and expects them to vye for honours this term.
“When Jose and Pep came 12 months' ago it felt to me like these two clubs would dominate in the next few years,” he told The Independent at the launch of UA92, the Class of 92’s new foray into higher education.
“Last year, they both fell below a standard that you would accept. Both needed to do better. This year, the very early signs are that they look a lot better.
“City are fantastic going forward, they look breathtaking. United look strong and powerful, efficient, and they look like they have the qualities to last the season with the strength of that spine. It's set up perfectly, in the sense that there are contrasting styles as well.”
Neither the red nor the blue half of Manchester has won the Premier League since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson lifted his 13th and final top-flight title before retiring after 27 years at the Old Trafford helm.
Neville believes Manchester's fallow period will end in May, but is not yet sure whether it will be Mourinho or Guardiola who is celebrating.
“I do think the league will end up in Manchester. I said it last season, by the way, and I was wrong. Pep and Jose you just think automatically that they win.
“This year, I think they'll get it right between them. One of them will win the Premier League and it'll be a nightmare for the other, whoever wins.”
Arsenal and Manchester City going head to head for Fulham wonder kid Matt O'Riley
O'Riley has caught the eye of the Premier League duo after breaking into the first team this season having starred for Fulham's youth teams.
Creative midfielder O'Riley has started twice in the Carabao Cup this season despite not turning 17 until November and also featured in the Checkatrade Trophy for the Cottagers.
O'Riley's displays have earned him further international recognition at youth level too with a call up to the England squad for their September friendlies against Brazil and South Africa ahead of next month's under-17 World Cup in India
Fulham have high hopes for the left-footed playmaker O'Riley whose passing and technical ability is earning him admirers and who is tipped to be the next hot prospect to emerge from their academy.
Boss Slavisa Jokanovic said earlier this season: "I expect he can be an important player for our club in the future."
But they could soon face a battle to hold on to him amid interest from big clubs in the Premier League and also abroad
Arsenal and Manchester City transfer swap of Raheem Sterling and Alexis Sanchez could be back on in January
Gunners chief Arsene Wenger is a big fan of the Manchester City forward and an approach for him could yet hold the key to Alexis Sanchez’s future.
The Blues failed with their bid for Sanchez at the end of the summer transfer window, when Arsenal believed they were willing to offer Sterling as part of a deal.
City boss Pep Guardiola has insisted the 22-year-old is not for sale and that it was the Gunners who asked for him.
Arsenal maintained their No1 target was Monaco’s Thomas Lemar, but they failed with a £90million bid for him on deadline day.
The Londoners could now make a fresh bid for Sterling, as they look for top class replacements for Sanchez.
The Chile forward is on course to be a free agent next summer and it is likely the Gunners will get offers in January to try to tempt them to sell then, rather than lose him for free at season's end.
European champions Real Madrid have entered the frame for former Barcelona player Sanchez, who may also attract domestic interest from Chelsea and Manchester United.
It remains to be seen whether City would offer a deal in January, as they are confident of getting him next summer.
If Sanchez, who turns 29 in December, is not playing well for Arsenal when the window opens in the New Year, there is the possibility of a January sale.
Sterling has been in brilliant goal-scoring form at the start of the campaign, scoring in the last three Premier League games as City have made a flying start.
The England international, who grew up in London before joining Liverpool from Queens Park Rangers in 2010, will have two years left on his contract next summer and the Blues would face decisions on him.
Jose Mourinho desperate to snatch Arsenal star from rivals Man City
Arsenal star was bound for the Eitihad for £60million before move collapsed and Mour reckons he can lure the Chilean winger to Old Trafford
The Manchester United boss has been quoted a £25million signing-on fee for the Arsenal striker, who will be a free agent next summer.
Sanchez cannot sign an official pre-contract with the Red Devils until the new year as it is an internal transfer between two clubs in the Premier League.
But an agreement could be put in place for the deal to go through.
City tried to get Sanchez in the summer but had a final bid of £60m rejected.
The Chile superstar, 28, wanted the switch to the Etihad but his advisers also sounded out United at the time.
Many at City were surprised boss Pep Guardiola went for Sanchez in the summer, given that would mean dropping one of Sergio Aguero or Gabriel Jesus.
That pair have struck up a great understanding on the pitch this season, which may mean City will reassess whether they want to continue their pursuit of Sanchez.
Gabriel Jesus set for bumper new deal as Manchester City prepare to DOUBLE wages to £150,000-a-week
The Brazilian has had a fine start to the season at the Etihad, scoring 12 times in 17 games
Gabriel Jesus is getting a bumper new deal at Manchester City – to ensure Europe’s big guns have no chance of snatching him.
Jesus has proved a smash hit at the Etihad since making his debut nine months ago, scoring 12 times in 17 games.
And now the Brazilian, 20, is set to more than double his current £70,000-a-week wage to £150,000-a-week with City keen to recognise his status as one of European football’s biggest talents.
Etihad chiefs have moved to secure the player on an improved contract after a record-breaking summer in the transfer market which has seen fees for players reach exorbitant levels and which makes the £28m City paid for him seem an absolute bargain.
Paris St Germain’s successful £198m capture of Neymar from Barcelona showed Europe’s biggest club’s are vulnerable to losing their best players, irrespective of their perceived standing.
Jesus is already under contract with City until 2021, but the new deal is likely to see that agreement extended by a year to further protect his market value.
The new contract could also include a release clause, in excess of £100m, like Neymar’s did at Barcelona, to afford City insurance if any of Europe’s elite clubs try to swoop for him.
Manchester City star Fernandinho in talks with club over new deal as Pep Guardiola looks to tie down midfielder
Manchester City are in talks with Fernandinho over a new contract at the Etihad.
The five-year deal signed by the Brazil midfielder when he joined from Shakhtar Donetsk for £30million in 2013 is due to run out next year and it is understood there is a willingness on both sides to agree new terms as quickly as possible.
Fernandinho, 32, has been one of City's most consistent performers under Pep Guardiola and started every game this season before Wednesday night's Carabao Cup tie at West Bromwich Albion, where he was on the bench.
Fernandinho, 32, has been one of City's most consistent performers under Pep Guardiola
The Brazilian midfielder came on as a second-half substitute for Leroy Sane, who scored both goals in the 2-1 victory at West Brom.
City are looking to tie down several first-team players to new deals, with the club opening talks with the representatives of Gabriel Jesus over an improved contract.
City are already in the process of offering new terms to Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva and want to reward Jesus for his impact since arriving from Palmeiras for £27m last January.
YAYA 300
Yaya Toure made his 300th Manchester City appearance yesterday after being named in the starting XI for the game against West Brom.
The Ivorian joined in 2010 and has played a significant role in the City's recent success, winning two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup in his seven full seasons at the Club.
Having been restricted to a defensive role during his time at Barcelona, he was given much more freedom after joining City and quickly established a reputation as one of the most complete midfielders in the game.
In his first year, he scored 12 goals in 51 appearances, including winners in both the semi-final and final of the FA Cup as City ended a 35-year wait for silverware.
His goal against Manchester United in the semi-final, which saw him dispossess Michael Carrick and put the ball between Edwin Van Der Sar's legs, sparked a wave of optimism across the City supporters, and a month later he repeated the trick by smashing home past Thomas Sorensen as City defeated Stoke in the final, securing the Club's first major piece of silverware since the 1976 League Cup.
The following campaign saw him play a key role in City’s first title win in 44 years. He capped a brilliant performance by scoring two goals in the penultimate game away at Newcastle to put City on the brink of the title. In total, he scored nine goals in 42 games and continued to forge a reputation as one of the finest midfielders of the Premier League era.
But perhaps his finest season came in 2013/14. City won the Premier League and the League Cup, with Yaya scoring 24 goals in all competitions, including a wonderful long-range effort in the League Cup final win over Sunderland at Wembley. His 20 Premier League strikes saw him become only the second central-midfielder to score 20 in a single league campaign.
In 2016, he scored the winning penalty in the League Cup final win over Liverpool, consolidating his status a big-game player, and played 10 times in the Champions League as City reached the semi-finals, their best performance in the competition to date.
In total, he has scored 82 goals in his 300 appearances across all competitions. In his 220 Premier League appearances, he has directly contributed to 92 goals (62 goals and 30 assists).
The name Yaya Toure will forever be etched in City’s history and tonight everyone at the Club would like to congratulate him on reaching a new milestone
WAG OF THE DAY
Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard, 26, has ruled out big-money move to French club Paris St-Germain. (SFR Sport via Express)
PSG have offered striker Edinson Cavani to Real Madrid after the 30-year-old Uruguayan was involved in a bust-up with team-mate Neymar. (Sport via Star)
Chelsea and Everton are also interested in Cavani but face competition from Napoli. (Mail)
Manchester United and Arsenal are among the clubs keen to sign Schalke star Leon Goretzka, but the 22-year-old German midfielder only wants to join Barcelona or Bayern Munich. (Express)
Arsenal are interested in Marseille's French defender Christopher Rocchia, 19, but face competition from Borussia Dortmund for the 19-year-old's signature. ( Sun)
Tottenham and Liverpool will go head to head in a battle to land German midfielder David Philipp, 17, from Werder Bremen. (Mirror)
Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood has warned the club that they must win a title or risk losing 24-year-old forward Harry Kane. (Mirror)
Liverpool are interested in RB Leipzig's 18-year-old French defender Dayot Upamecano. (Star)
Harry Kane's rise at Tottenham has been detailed on the new Fifa console game, with his latest rating up there with the world's best. (Express)
Members of Manchester United's famous Class of 92 have unveiled plans to open a university near Old Trafford. (Guardian)
Neymar, 25, has demanded PSG sell fellow forward Edinson Cavani, 30, after their on-pitch dispute on Saturday. (Daily Mail)
Barcelona failed with a £124m move for Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, 26, in the summer. Manchester United also wanted the France international. (Talkshyte)
GOLDEN BOLLOX
On this day in 2013
Do us proud: Hart makes derby fan plea
City goalkeeper Joe Hart has pleaded with Manchester football fans not to spoil Sunday's crunch derby at the Etihad Stadium
The Blues keeper had to intervene last season when one City fan ran onto the pitch to try to confront United defender Rio Ferdinand, who was also struck on the head by a coin.
Hart remonstrated with the pitch invader, who was later given a suspended prison sentence and banned from all football grounds for three years.
That was the latest in a series of incidents to mar Manchester derbies, with Craig Bellamy also being struck by a bottle, and tangling with a United fan who ran onto the Old Trafford pitch in 2009.
Hart has called for calm on Sunday and asked the City fans to get behind their team in the correct way.
“The derby is one of the most anticipated and exciting games in world football,” said the England goalkeeper. “As players, we are all looking forward to Sunday, and we know that the fans will be too.
“The home support is so important for us, and I know they will be like an extra man for the team on the day. As always, we need our fans in full voice, but we also need them to respect the occasion. We want everyone to enjoy the game but be sensible too.
“There were incidents last year which no-one wants to see repeated. The eyes of the world will be on this game as usual, and I’m confident our supporters will do the club proud.
“Our fans are the best in the world and we want you to show your passion for the club, but in the right way.”
Manchester United fan Usain 'cent' Bolt has admitted to trying to tire out Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby. The world's fastest man sent the 25-year-old Argentine chasing wayward passes during a get-together at City's Etihad Stadium. Daily Star
Welshyte, Rafael & Clichy all doubts ahead of Manchester derby clash
The two clubs go head-to-head at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon with several players working hard to be fit in time and a number of stars facing late fitness tests
Both Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini and Manchester United's David Moyes have first-team injury doubts ahead of Sunday's derby clash.
The two clubs return to Premier League action at the Etihad Stadium after respective wins in their opening Champions League matches but have a few team selection issues to resolve.
City midfielder David Silva is fit and has returned to first-team training after a hamstring problem but there are suggestions from Carrington that Pellegrini may be tempted to start with Samir Nasri after his performance in Tuesday's win over Viktoria Plzen.
Gael Clichy is still struggling with a knock and faces late fitness tests on Friday, with Aleksandar Kolarov likely to start at left-back, but Micah Richards should be back in the squad.
As for the visitors, Danny Welbeck is a doubt with United's medical staff struggling to fix the fluid in his knee. The England forward missed training earlier in the week and, although he is being eased back into things, still has not taken part in a full-contact session.
Instead, the 22-year-old striker has stuck to light jogging and similar personal exercise and is therefore unlikely to start - but he could make the matchday squad on Sunday.
Moyes also has some concerns in defence. The former Everton boss is reluctant to to play Rio Ferdinand three games in a row, with worries about the 34-year-old's general wear and tear ahead of a long season, but other injuries mean that he may well have to do so.
Phil Jones is suffering from an ankle injury and there is uncertainty over the extent of Rafael's hamstring problem, with the latter set to be monitored right up until the end of training on Saturday.
Manchester City legend winds up Manchester United fans ahead of derby
Rodney Marsh is a wind up merchant, he's been one since he was a professional footballer and always loved the attention it brings. On Twitter he loves to get into arguments with supporters and then try and belittle them, getting shocked when they don't respond too kindly. Marsh sometimes opens his mouth and lets words flow out before he's even thought about what he's going to say, hence getting sacked from Sky Sports Understands for making a joke about tsunamis.
Almost before every derby he'll come out with something designed to wind Manchester United up and keep him relevant to Manchester City fans who no longer have to look to players of the past for football heroes. This time it was bound to be about Wayne Rooney and he didn't disappoint.
Speaking to talkSHIT, Marsh said "I will be shocked if Wayne Rooney is still at Manchester United at the end of the season, I think Rooney’s off.
“I always look at body language with footballers and when Moyes got up and said to Wayne he was being substituted, Rooney was so angry.
“When he walked off he just brushed past him. You can tell that there is a undercurrent between Rooney and Moyes.
“I will be astonished if he’s still there at the end of the season if it carries on like this. David Moyes won’t back down.”
Carries on like what Rodney? If Wayne Rooney had thrown a strop when coming off then it would have been all over the back pages, nothing happened. Rooney just looked disappointed to be coming off, not even particularly disappointed, he's sulked in the past when having to leave the field.
Since the match on Tuesday, Rooney has been on something of a PR mission to try and get some support back his way. Rodney Marsh's claim he'd be astonished if Rooney didn't leave in January may come back to bite him, like so many other things.
Manchester City join race for Newcastle and Spurs target Pecks
Manchester City are being linked with a January move for Gil Vicente centre-back Pecks.
The 20-year-old Cape Verde international is already being monitored by Tottenham and Newcastle.
Now City’s scouts have recommended the youngster to manager Manuel Pellegrini after he impressed playing for his Portuguese club. And they have jumped to the front of the queue because they have a partnership arrangement with Gil Vicente.
The £5m-rated defender is tall and a strong tackler. He had already been compared to City skipper Vincent Kompany, and Pellegrini sees him vying for a first-team spot with the Belgian immediately.
He is expected to be one of City’s first targets when the transfer window reopens.
WAG OF THE DAY
Manchester United are plotting a £25m January move for Southampton defender Luke Shaw, 18. Daily Star Aston Villa midfielder Marc Albrighton, 23, is set to go on loan, with Championship side Derby County ready to snap him up. Daily Mirror
Arsenal and West Ham target Ciprian Marica, 27, is close to revealing the identity of his next club after the former Schalke striker, who is a free agent, confirmed he is in negotiations with three teams. Daily Star
Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio says he sold playmaker Stephane Sessegnon, 29, to West Brom on transfer deadline day because his heart was no longer in the club. DSSC
Everton coach Alan Stubbs has admitted that left-back Leighton Baines, 28, wanted to join Manchester United during the summer. Sun
Arsenal want Juventus legend Antonio Conte to lead them into a new era if Arsene Wenger decides to end his 17-year-tenure as manager. Daily Star
