Supporters are advised that the limited allocation of tickets set aside for qualifying Adult Seasoncard holders, to purchase for Junior Seasoncard holders regardless of their loyalty point status, has now SOLD OUT.
To purchase a ticket, Junior Seasoncard holders must now qualify for a ticket in their own right with the requisite number of loyalty points.
We can also confirm that the club's allocation of Category 1 (£115) tickets has now SOLD OUT.
Wembley final tickets continue to be available to Seasoncard holders with 4,250 loyalty points or more from 10am on Sunday 1 May.
Man City owner Sheikh Mansour to miss FA Cup final
Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Sultan Al Nahan isn't expected to make the FA Cup final.
Sheikh Mansour, who has transformed City with an investment worth £750million since taking over the club in August 2009, will be on state business when Roberto Mancini leads his team out against Stoke on May 14.
A City source told the Sunday Mirror: “Sheikh Mansour would love to be at Wembley to support the team, but we understand that he will be undertaking some very important state business for Abu Dhabi on the day of the cup final.
“I am sure if he can’t make it in person, he will be watching on television. He is delighted that City have reached the FA Cup Final.”
Sulky Balotelli completes unwanted hat-trick with training ground bust-up with Kompany
How much more can Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini take?
The prospect of an FA Cup Final appearance at Wembley, finishing fourth in the Barclays Premier League and playing Champions League football next season does not seem to have brightened the mood of Mario Balotelli.
The £23m striker completed an unwanted hat-trick when he was involved in a third training ground bust-up on Saturday.
Balotelli reacted angrily to a strong challenge from team-mate Vincent Kompany and responded with his trademark surly look and a pointed finger.
James Milner and Yaya Toure were forced to intervene before the fracas turned really ugly.
Balotelli's short career at Eastlands has been dogged by controversy and the latest bust-up will only fuel concern about how he is undermining City's hopes for success.
Balotelli arrived with a bad boy reputation which was only enhanced with a training ground scuffle with Jerome Boateng.
Mancini was then forced to read the riot act to the striker after a rash challenge on captain Carlos Tevez in training.
On the pitch he has bagged nearly as many cautions as goals and off the pitch, he has racked up almost £10,000 in parking fines and his white Maserati supercar has been impounded 27 times.
But he did endear himself to City fans by winding up Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand after the 1-0 FA Cup semi-final victory at Wembley. Mail
MCF.NET THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=38366
Manchester City go prank crazy with bags of flour
It has been revealed that Manchester City stars Carlos Tevez and Yaya Toure sought revenge on Italian striker Mario Balotelli but emptying two bags of flour in his Maserati sports car.
According to The Sun, the temperamental 20-year-old had to dig into his pocket for his set of wheels to be professionally cleaned.
A source said: “Yaya has tried to steer clear of the childish antics.
“He normally takes things very seriously but has been dragged into it. Mario kept tripping him up at training and generally acting like a teenage boy.
“Yaya hit back by Sellotaping his trainers to the ceiling and dished out some more with the flour when Mario failed to learn his lesson.
“Tevez was in on it too. He loves a wind-up.”
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hijacks £26m Man City deal for Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez
Manchester United have made a dramatic late swoop to hijack Manchester City’s deal to sign the highly-rated winger Alexis Sanchez for up to £26.5 million.
It is understood that Sanchez’s representatives met with City officials on Friday to thrash out personal terms for the Chilean international. But in an unexpected twist that will cause alarm at Eastlands, it is believed the agents then had a further meeting, this time with United, yesterday morning.
Indeed, it is thought that the 22 year-old’s representatives have now indicated that their client would prefer to join United if a deal can be agreed, even though it appeared that a deal was well advanced with their City rivals.
Neither club has yet to agree terms with Udinese, although the Italian club have accepted that Sanchez can leave this summer and is free to discuss a move. Personal terms are not an issue for either Premier League club.
It had been thought Udinese would hold out for up to £35.4 million for Sanchez, who can play as a winger or central striker, but it is now accepted that a fee of between £18 million and £26.5 million is more realistic.
If United have gazumped City — and it is believed that Sir Alex Ferguson personally intervened in the hope of doing so, having also followed the player for some time — then it will be a severe blow to City, who regarded Sanchez as their key summer signing.
They have tracked Sanchez for months, with officials, including football administrator Brian Marwood, travelling to Italy to monitor his progress.
Further talks were held with his representatives three weeks ago and since then the club have been confident that a deal was on the verge of being completed.
Despite City’s vast spending power they will not want to get into a tug-of-war with United over the player. United still have a greater global appeal than City when it comes to signings, even if the latter also qualify for the Champions League next season.
Concern at Eastlands will have been compounded by manager Roberto Mancini’s admission last night that club captain Carlos Tévez is likely to leave this summer.
It is understood that City would be prepared to sell Tévez but only if a buying club meet their valuation, believed to be £50 million.
When asked if he would fight to keep Tévez at the club, Mancini said: “I will fight for every player who wants to stay here but – and this is not just Carlos but others too – it is difficult to keep a player if they don’t want to stay. It is very difficult. So I don’t know.”
Tévez handed in a transfer request in December but withdrew it after a meeting with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
Asked whether it would help the team focus on their goals if Tévez clarified his situation publicly, Mancini said: “I don’t know this. Carlos has a contract but we should wait. But I don’t know what will happen with him.”
There are few clubs that would be able to match City’s fee and Tévez’s wage demands.
Real Madrid and Internazionale have been reported as interested in the player but, according to sources at City, both clubs have given no indication that they want to sign him.
Chelsea also have a long-standing interest but are concerned about what the deal would cost. Telegraph
Bridge and £20mil for Baines?
MANCHESTER City are ready to offer Everton £20million – and Wayne Bridge – for full-back Leighton Baines.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have all been monitoring the 26-year-old defender, but City hope their huge bid blows the opposition out of the water.
City boss Roberto Mancini has decided that Baines , who is pushing Ashley Cole for a regular spot in the England side, can help take the Eastlands club on to a higher level.
Baines is a year into a five-year contract at Goodison Park, but City hope the chance of a bigger pay packet – plus Champions League football – will appeal.
City also know that Everton are due to make payments to their bank in the summer. That will leave them hard pressed to resist big offers for their stars, but boss David Moyes (left) doesn’t want to lose any main members of his squad.
Relations between Everton and City were strained over Joleon Lescott’s £24m move to Eastlands.
But City are confident that, as in the case of Lescott, their mountain of cash will win the day in their quest for Baines.
Manchester United target Sneijder given £85m price tag
MANCHESTER UNITED will have to cough up a staggering £85million if they want to sign Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan this summer.That’s the financial package Sir Alex Ferguson will have to sanction if he wants to make Dutch international Sneijder the new Paul Scholes. Ferguson has been on Sneijder’s tail for two years and thought he could grab the 26-year-old star last June after Jose Mourinho left Inter Milan for Real Madrid and former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez took over at the San Siro.
But after just getting married to Dutch actress and presenter Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen last summer, Sneijder didn’t want to leave Italy.
Sources close to him say the midfielder with an explosive shot is now ready for a fresh challenge – with Old Trafford his No.1 destination.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is also keen on the Dutchman – and the billionaires at Eastlands will not be scared off by the price.
Inter are said to want £35m for the star – even though they only paid Real £16m for his services two years ago.
Sneijder is reportedly on an annual salary of £10m and would want a five-year contract – a huge £85m investment that would test the commitment of United owners, the Glazer family.
Ferguson already needs a top-class goalkeeper to replace Edwin van der Sar while a defender is on the agenda, too. Top scorer Dimitar Berbatov is also out of contract at the end of next season.
Sneijder has the pedigree United want, but the outlay is massive – and that may leave the field clear for City.
Chelsea set to bid £40m for Carlos Tevez
Chelsea are preparing a £40million bid for Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez.
The London club have instructed super-agent Pini Zahavi to broker a deal that would see Tevez partner Fernando Torres in Chelsea’s attack next season.
City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners are aware that Zahavi has been tasked with landing the 27-year-old Argentine for Stamford Bridge benefactor Roman Abramovich.
But City are unlikely to contemplate selling their captain and top goalscorer to another Premier League club - even if they meet the asking price.
City boss Roberto Mancini last night insisted he would not stand in the way of any players who want to quit the club.
Mancini said: “I will fight for every player who wants to stay here - whether it is Carlos or another player.
“But I think it is difficult in 2011 to keep one player who does not stay at the club.
“Carlos has a contract, but I don’t know what is going to happen with him.”
Inter Milan and Juventus have both been linked with Tevez, while Real Madrid will also be in the market for a new striker in the summer after telling City that they will not meet their £12million valuation of Emmanuel Adebayor.
Those three clubs would be reluctant to meet City’s price.
Chelsea demonstrated with the £50million purchase of Torres from Liverpool in January that they are still willing to pay what it takes to land the right player.
But City’s financial position means they don’t have to sell the former Manchester United and West Ham striker to the highest bidder.
Manchester United to Make Summer Move for Manchester City Keeper Shay Given
Old Trafford boss keen on Eastlands bench warmer.
Manchester United’s search for a suitable replacement for soon to be retired Edwin Van der Sar will reportedly see Sir Alex Ferguson attempt to lure Shay Given from local rivals Manchester City. The Old Trafford boss has seen his moves for a succession of keepers seemingly falter and the Scot is now looking to bring the Irish international to the club.
Ferguson has attempted to secure deals for both Schalke custodian Manuel Neuer and Liverpool goalie Pepe Reina and has also apparently failed to persuade Atletico Madrid youngster David De Gea to leave Spain for the Premier League.
Roberto Mancini made England international Joe Hart Man City’s number one and has consigned 35 year old Given to a season of bench warming and the former Newcastle United and Blackburn keeper has not played a single minute of Premier League action this term and has been strongly linked with moves to both Arsenal and Fulham but remains at Eastlands.
Some believe that Mancini is not willing to sell Given to a rival and that could prevent a move to Man United coming to light but the experienced keeper would surely be tempted by such a move and is certain to be looking to secure first team football next term.
Man United purchased Dane Anders Lindegaard but the 27 year old is seen as a back up and Pole Tomasz Kuszczak is expected to leave in the summer.
Spurs and Man City to slug it out over £10m Parker
Tottenham and Manchester City will lead the battle to sign Scott Parker this summer.
Parker will reluctantly quit Upton Park if West Ham are relegated from the Premier League and the clubs are prepared to meet the Hammers £10 million valuation.
Although the 30-year-old midfielder has no get-out clause inserted into the four-year contract he signed last September a verbal agreement was reached that would allow him to leave the club if they failed to retain their top-flight status.
Spurs have failed with two previous bids to sign Parker and although they remain quietly confident they can secure his signature, City’s interest has weakened their position.
Spurs are unlikely to offer Parker any greater financial incentive to move to White Hart Lane while City are prepared to treble his current £60,000 a week salary and look the more likely side to offer him Champions League football next season.
However, the potential stumbling block is Parker’s reluctance to leave his mother in London following the recent untimely death of his father.
Manchester City are lining up a £15m bid for 25-year-old Bolton defender Gary Cahill - using Shaun Wright-Phillips as a makeweight in the deal. News of the World
Chelsea manager Ancelotti is the shock name at the top of Manchester City's wanted list as doubts grow over current boss Roberto Mancini's position. News of the World
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United target David de Gea has been offered a new contract by his Spanish club Atletico Madrid. The 20-year-old goalkeeper has a buy-out clause which values him at £22m. People
Spurs are also set to revive their interest in Joe Cole only 12 months after he rejected a move to White Hart Lane and completed a free transfer to Liverpool. Sunday Mirror
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will have to top Bayern Munich's £7.8m-a-year offer to Manuel Neuer to have a chance of luring the Schalke goalkeeper to the Emirates. Mail on Sunday
West Brom manager Roy Hodgson has played down speculation linking his star Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie with a summer move away from the Hawthorns. Metro
Liverpool are tracking 18-year-old Atletico Bilbao winger Iker Muniain and may make a move for him in the summer. Sunday Mirror
Everton boss David Moyes is prepared to let Yakubu leave Goodison Park in the summer but he wants £2m for the Nigerian striker, 28, who has been on loan at Leicester this season. People
Carlo Ancelotti believes Chelsea's push towards the defence of their Premier League title has been powered by the sun. "We suffer in the winter temperatures," said the Italian after Saturday's win over Spurs. (AFP)
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