The Spanish playmaker says that, unlike team-mate Carlos Tevez, he is revelling in his time in the North West and can't wait to play for the Citizens in the Champions League
Manchester City midfielder David Silva has spoken of his enjoyment at both living in Manchester and playing his football in the Premier League.
The Spanish international also went on to talk of the pivotal role his team-mates played in his successful debut season, and expressed his hopes for continued success at club and international levels.
Discussing how he adjusted to life in Manchester, Silva told City's official website: “My adaptation to Manchester City was very good. I was received very well.
“I enjoy the city; also the Premier League is great. Obviously the weather is not the best but I am adapted to it also.”
Silva’s unselfish nature on the pitch is reflected in his attitude, as he insists that winning personal awards and praise is not as important to him as the team's success.
Asked about finishing as runner-up in the club’s Player of the Season awards, Silva said: “I don’t care so much about individual awards, the important thing is that the team performed well.
“We got into the Champions League and won the FA Cup and we look forward to keep playing football.”
Quizzed on how he feels about being City's main creative influence, Silva continued: “The truth is that the team also won when I wasn’t on the pitch, the important thing is that we keep winning.
“I am comfortable when I am in the team and when this produces good results.”
Closing in on his 50th cap for Spain, Silva remains very much a part of Vicente Del Bosque’s plans internationally, and the 25-year-old says the national team are not too worried about the pressures at the top.
He said, “What we [Spain] have to do now is to enjoy and do our best, we don’t know when it will end but we have to enjoy today.”
MANCHESTER CITY STILL APPEAL TO ARSENAL ACE SAMIR NASRI
SAMIR NASRI still believes he could join Manchester City this summer and has told friends he has no intention of performing a U-turn over his Arsenal future by signing a new contract.
Arsenal are also braced for a new bid for Cesc Fabregas after Barcelona boosted their coffers by selling Bojan Krkic to Roma for £10.5million and agreeing a £4m deal with Chelsea for Oriol Romeu.
Arsene Wenger had claimed he will not sell Nasri, despite the fact he has only 12 months left on his current deal, but the Arsenal boss last night admitted he is now not so sure.
“It is not completely sorted that Samir will stay, but I want him to stay,” said Wenger. “He knows that. Hopefully we can sort that out in the coming weeks.”
Nasri believes City will make a move for him and is interested in potential wages of £150,000 a week.
Wenger will make another attempt to tie him to Arsenal with a new £110,000-a-week deal but France international Nasri has no plans to sign and has made up his mind to go – whether now or on a free transfer next year.
According to sources close to Nasri, he was assured in October that a verbal contract offer would be immediately put into writing but the club then took months to get back to him.
By then, Nasri had grown frustrated by the delay and had been made aware he had attracted the interest of other top clubs.
Despite the fact he is now convinced he will leave, Nasri travelled to Germany with the rest of the squad for today’s friendly against Cologne.
Manchester City are set to make a raid on AC Milan for 20-year-old striker Luca Scapuzzi.
Roberto Mancini has been searching for a replacement for want-away captain Carlos Tevez, with Atletico Madrid frontman Sergio Aguero top of his shopping list.
But the former Inter Milan boss is reportedly set to make a signing with one eye on the future, with Scapuzzi available for around £1m.
The striker has come through the youth system at the San Siro but has struggled with a knee ligament injury and has been sidelined for almost a year.
But, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Mancini is ready to take a gamble on Scapuzzi, with the youngster set to go straight into City's reserve side if he decides to move to England.
Inter to meet Manchester City to discuss potential loan move for Carlos Tevez
The Argentina forward wants to leave and the Giuseppe Meazza club are looking to thrash out a temporary deal with a view to a permanent transfer next summer
Inter are keen to take Carlos Tevez on a season-long loan, with the Argentine permanently moving to Italy next summer, and will meet Manchester City on July 31 to discuss the possibility, reports Corriere dello Sport.
The former Boca Juniors forward has admitted his desire to leave Eastlands, and looked likely to move back to Brazilian club Corinthians before a deal broke down.
With the forward's options limited due to the large fee requested by his current employers, Gian Piero Gasperini's team are keen to find a solution.
Similar to the deal that took Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Barcelona to AC Milan, a mandatory buy-out clause would be agreed before the loan deal starts.
The Giuseppe Meazza outfit had initially toyed with the idea of including Samuel Eto'o in a swap deal, but instead are seemingly ready to pay the €45 million demanded by Roberto Mancini's side.
The two teams are set to meet next week in a friendly to contest the Dublin Super Cup tournament, where negotiations could start.
Talisman Tevez world class says Johnson
Adam Johnson hopes Carlos Tevez will remain at Manchester City but understands the Argentinian's reasons for wanting to leave.
Tevez has told the club of his desire to leave so he can be nearer to his young daughters, who live in his homeland.
City thought they had reached an agreement to sell the striker to Brazilian club Corinthians earlier this week but the deal fell through and the 27-year-old's future remains uncertain.
England winger Johnson told Sky Sports News: "I hope he is (with the club this season) as he was our talisman last season scoring all his goals. A number of times he carried us in games with his goals and individual brilliance.
"Obviously he has his own reasons for what he is doing at the minute but he is a world-class player and whatever he does I wish him all the best."
Tottenham boss Redknapp keen to finalise move for ex-Gunner Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor could make a sensational return to north London with Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp plotting to sign the out-of-favour Manchester City striker on loan.
Redknapp’s interest means Adebayor could follow in the footsteps of Sol Campbell, William Gallas and Pat Jennings by playing for both Arsenal and Spurs.
The key stumbling block towards a deal remains the striker’s £170,000-a-week wages.
Mega-rich City have told the White Hart Lane club they are loathe to pay a hefty percentage of the 27-year-old’s salary — something Tottenham would require given their restricted finances.
It is understood that Spurs have proposed to pay £85,000 — 50 per cent — of Adebayor’s weekly wage.
Publicly, City claim they are not desperate to shift the striker, but it is understood that privately they wish to move him on.
Offloading a significant chunk of his £8.84million-a-year salary is a key motivation among the money men at the Etihad Stadium.
Manager Roberto Mancini is also said to be keen on seeing Adebayor leave as soon as possible as he views the former Togo striker as a disruptive influence.
Last summer City refused to do business with Tottenham because they viewed the White Hart Lane club as direct rivals for a coveted Champions League place. Redknapp also missed out on moves for Shay Given, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards last summer.
But since qualifying for Europe’s premier competition, City no longer deem Tottenham as challengers to their lofty ambitions, making Adebayor’s switch more likely.
The protracted switch to White Hart Lane would undoubtedly cause a stir.
He scored 62 times for Arsenal during his two-and-a-half year spell with the Gunners, prompting Spurs fans to come up with a derogatory chant about Adebayor’s parents.
But Adebayor infuriated the Gunners’ faithful after leaving the Emirates for City and then running the full length of the pitch in Manchester to celebrate in front of his former supporters in a 4-2 win in 2009.
However, Adebayor has not been complimentary about Spurs, either.
After Real Madrid beat Tottenham 4-0 in the Champions League last season, Adebayor, who was with the Spanish club on loan, said: ‘When you want to kill a snake, you have to cut the head off — and I hope we can cut Tottenham’s head off in the second leg in London.’
In reply to Spurs fans’ taunts towards his parents during the return leg, Adebayor revealed: ‘I felt sad because before joining Real Madrid my first choice was Tottenham.
‘I was supposed to sign for Tottenham before Madrid came in.
‘People have to realise that we are footballers, today we play for one team, tomorrow we may end up playing for another.
‘What if I am wearing a Tottenham shirt tomorrow?’
Atletico Madrid sources have confirmed to Sky Sports that they expect to open official talks with Manchester City over Sergio Aguero in next 48 hours B*ll*x Towers understands
Manchester City's unwanted stars must move on or train with the kids
Craig Bellamy’s hopes of a second chance at City have been dashed by manager Roberto Mancini.
The Blues striker, and other unwanted stars like Emmanuel Adebayor, Nedum Onuoha and Wayne Bridge, will be left to train with the elite development squad if attempts to move them out are unsuccessful.
Bellamy has returned to training at Carrington with the youngsters while the first-team squad is out in California.
But, unlike Adebayor – fined two weeks’ wages for failing to turn up for training on the first stipulated day – Bellamy’s attitude has impressed City staff.
Reports coming out of the training ground say he has been positive, trained hard and even gave an inspirational speech to some of the younger players.
He has also turned out in friendlies against Altrincham and Stalybridge and looked sharp, scoring in the latter.
Ideally he wants a move, but is reluctant to give up his £90,000 a week wage, and none of the interested clubs – chiefly Celtic and Cardiff – can come close to matching that.
Bellamy has asked City to pay up the final year of his wages and then he can move on, but insists he needs the money to sustain the children’s academy he funds in Sierra Leone.
“There's no chance of me taking a reduction in money – that is impossible,” he said recently. “I have to take care of 13 children every day there.
“My wages are more important to them than they are for me. If City pay me the final year of my wages then I can go where I want. In that case, my first option would be Cardiff.”
Bellamy’s absence was felt at times last season, as injuries to Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez left the Blues short up front.
But Mancini ruled out any chance of Bellamy being included in next season’s plans, especially with Sergio Aguero close to signing and the Corinthians’ deal for Tevez falling through.
The player fell out with Mancini over the management of his long-standing knee problem, but played 36 games for Cardiff on loan last season.
Mancini, however, still feels the injury issue makes Bellamy of no use to him, saying: “We have three strikers and possibly another coming, so it will be difficult to have a player who can only play once a month. I don’t like this"
Bridge among Cosmos selection
Manchester City full-back Wayne Bridge has been added to the New York Cosmos squad for Paul Scholes' testimonial at Old Trafford on August 5.
Although they boast one of the most famous names in US soccer, the Cosmos currently only exist to play exhibition matches as they attempt to secure an MLS franchise.
Eric Cantona will manage the Cosmos against his old club, which probably would be enough to guarantee a full-house on its own.
However, a clutch of well-known names will ensure Scholes is given a suitably enthusiastic send-off, with Bridge amongst them as he looks for meaningful match practice.
The former Chelsea defender has been left in no doubt his opportunities if he remains at Eastlands this season will be few to non-existent and he was left behind when the remainder of City's squad departed for their three-match US tour, which concludes against the LA Galaxy on night.
On wages estimated at £70,000-a-week, Bridge has so far attracted little interest, although now at least he has been guaranteed one opportunity to show off his talents.
He will be joined by newly-installed City coaching ambassador Patrick Vieira in a squad that also includes three former Manchester United players in Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Dwight Yorke.
Tottenham duo Brad Friedel and Robbie Keane are also included, along with Blackburn right-back Michel Salgado.
New York Cosmos squad: Brad Friedel, Gary Neville, Wayne Bridge, Patrick Vieira, Fabio Cannavaro, Sol Campbell, Robert Pires, Nicky Butt, Dwight Yorke, Robbie Keane, Michel Salgado, Chad Calderone*, Ibrahim Diaby*, Yanik Reyering*, Stefan Dimitrov*, Dane Murphy*, Marvin Iraheta*, Moriken Sangary*, Brian McBride, Armando Gaitan*, Dawyne Smith*.
OTHER BOLLOX
Barcelona are planning to sell a number of their younger players to Premier League clubs to help fund a new, improved bid for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Daily Mirror
Meanwhile, Barca vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu and director Raul Sanllehi have been in London to put the finishing touches to a third offer of £33.5m for 24-year-old Fabregas. Daily Mail
Liverpool forward Milan Jovanovic, 30, has been handed the chance to maintain his current £60,000-a-week earnings after receiving an offer from Saudi Arabia club Al-Shabab Riyadh. Daily Mail
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is set to return to his former club Porto and attempt to sign Brazilian striker Hulk. However, the 24-year-old is contracted to the Portuguese club until 2016 and has a staggering 100m Euros buyout clause. Footie-online.co.uk
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has told Chelsea they will need to bid more than £35m if they want to buy 25-year-old Luka Modric. Spurs have turned down two bids, the latest being £27m for the Croatian playmaker. Daily Star
Tottenham are considering a monstrous move for Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben, 27, in the hope the Netherlands international is prepared to swap Champions League football for a shot at Champions League qualification. Footybunker.com
Spurs are also set to make an offer for Roma striker Mirko Vucinic. The Italians want a reported £17.5m for the 27-year-old but Tottenham are reportedly only prepared to go to £13m. talkSHIT
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has made an inquiry about Spartak Moscow's Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady, 25, as he waits on his bid for Wigan star Charles N'Zogbia. Daily Mirror
QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt, 22, has revealed he is close to joining Paris Saint-Germain, but manager Neil Warnock is not expecting to be able to spend any of the reported £13m transfer fee. Metro
Warnock wants to offer Peter Crouch, 30, a return to QPR but a £6m deal for the Tottenham striker would only work out if Crouch was willing to halve his wages. the Sun
Former Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, 27, is to hold talks with Bolton over a possible move. The midfielder, who made 30 appearances for Villa last season, is available on a free transfer. talkSport
Everton will resist any attempt to lure defender Phil Jagielka, 28, away from Goodison Park but manager David Moyes could be ready to sell England Under-21 midfielder Jack Rodwell, 20, whose progress last season was held back by injury. Daily Mirror
Rangers last night made a £500,000 offer for Palermo's Romania central defender, Dorin Goian, with manager Ally McCoist determined to seal the transfer before Tuesday's Champions League meeting with Malmo. (the Sun)
Rangers manager Ally McCoist has revealed that he hopes to sign five more players before the transfer window closes next month. (Daily Record)
Cardiff City should seal the £650,000 signing of Kenny Miller from Busaspor within 24 hours, ending Rangers' hopes of a return to Ibrox for the Scotland striker. (the Sun)
Austrian left-back Thomas Piermayr has agreed a one-year contract with Inverness Caledonian Thistle following a successful trial after rejecting a new deal with LASK Linz and overtures from MK Dons. (Daily Mail)
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, 33, insists he wants to stay and fight for his place - and is in talks over extending his £120,000-a-week contract which has one year left to run so he can finish his career at Stamford Bridge. Daily Mirror
Former Celtic striker Henrik Larsson hopes he has helped Malmo beat Rangers by passing on information about the Ibrox side to his Swedish countrymen ahead of their Champions League qualifier.
Police have visited all 12 Scottish Premier League club to warn players they will be arrested if they brawl on the pitch this season. (the Sun)
Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic, 23, refused to fly to the Asia Cup in Hong Kong with the rest of the Rovers squad, because of a row with the club over his desire to join Ukrainian club Dnipro. Daily Mirror
DIRTY BOLLOX
Jack Warner gave cash to official, document obtained by BBC claims
Jack Warner resigned from the Fifa vice-presidency amid allegations of corruption The BBC has obtained a document detailing claims that Jack Warner handed a senior Caribbean football official a locked case containing envelopes of cash to be distributed to members of the Caribbean Football Union at a special meeting promoting Mohamed Bin Hammam's Fifa presidential bid.
The allegation is contained in a report by the CFU general secretary Angenie Kanhai. The two page document, on CFU headed paper and dated 15 July 2011, was prepared for Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke but was to be sent via the CFU's executive committee.
It is understood this document has now been submitted to the ethics committee investigating claims that Bin Hammam tried to bribe members of the CFU with gifts of £40,000 each. Kanhai has travelled to Zurich, where the hearing is taking place, and, crucially, was expected to give evidence on Friday.
Warner, Bin Hammam and two CFU officials, Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester, refused to co-operate with Fifa's ethics committee investigation, carried out by former FBI director Louis Freeh.
So the apparent co-operation of such a senior figure at the top of the CFU - Warner was effectively Kanhai's boss - is a significant development.
In a series of bullet points, signed by Kanhai, a detailed account is given of what happened during the meeting of the CFU at the Hyatt Hotel, Trinidad on May 10-11. The document states:
"I was directed to coordinate the special meeting of the CFU by Mr Jack Warner, who was at that time, president of the CFU. Mr Warner initially requested the meeting be held by April 18, 2011, but the May date was ultimately agreed.
"The purpose of the special meeting was to provide Mr Bin Hammam with the opportunity to address the delegates from the CFU.
"On May 10, 2011, Mr Warner advised me that he had gifts, which were to be distributed to the delegates. Mr Warner did not tell me what the gifts were, but advised that they were to be distributed from the Hotel (sic) that afternoon. After consulting with my staff, Jason Sylvester and Debbie Minguell, I suggested to Mr Warner that the gifts be distributed between 3PM and 5PM that day.
"During the morning session on May 10, Mr Warner made an announcement to the attendees about picking up the abovementioned (sic) gift. I was told that I should come to his office to collect the gifts that were to be distributed.
"I arrived at Mr Warner's office at approximately 2.30PM on May 10 and collected a locked bag with the key in the front pocket.
"The bag contained 26 envelopes, these envelopes were unmarked and were folded and sealed. I did not see any envelopes opened and left Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester to distribute the envelopes.
"The next day I met Debbie and Jason for breakfast at the hotel and they advised me that the envelopes had contained cash."
Continue reading the main story It's not unusual for such things to happen and gifts have been around throughout the history of Fifa. What's happening now for me is hypocrisy
Jack Warner
Speaking on 20 June 2011
The report goes on to say:
"In speaking with the representative from the Bahamas I was advised that he had returned the envelope. The representative from the Turks and Caicos returned the envelope to Ms Minguell on the morning of May 11 2011.
"After the meeting I was contacted by Mr Warner who asked that the bag and any remaining gifts be returned to him."
Although Bin Hammam, Minguell and Sylvester all face being banned from football following the ethics committee hearing, all the charges against Warner were dropped last month after he resigned from Fifa and his powerful positions in Caribbean football.
Witnesses from some of the 25 CFU associations offered money have stated that the idea of giving cash gifts originated with Warner. But despite giving up his football posts he has repeatedly denied direct involvement in the bribery plot.
In a statement dated 20 June, Warner said: "I am convinced that since my actions did not extend beyond facilitating the meeting that gave Mr Bin Hammam an opportunity to pursue his aborted bid for the Fifa presidency, I would be fully exonerated by any objective arbiter."
Kanhai's account of events in Trinidad suggests then that Warner was more implicated in the bribery scandal than he has previously admitted.
But while the report shows a clear chain of command between Warner and the officials who allegedly distributed the money, it does not prove a direct link between the cash and Bin Hammam.
Leaked details of Freeh's report into the affair concluded that although there is no smoking gun there is "convincing circumstantial evidence" that he was behind it.
When contacted by phone by the BBC this week, Kanhai refused to comment on the claims she had been handed the controversial case of money by Warner.
Kanhai did not return a number of calls immediately prior to the publication of this story while repeated requests for comment from Warner received no response.
The new evidence emerged as Fifa's ethics committee began hearing the case against Bin Hammam. Earlier in the day the 62-year-old Qatari, suspended from all football activity on May 29, released a statement appearing to concede defeat in his bid to clear his name.
"Despite the weakness of the case against me, I am not confident that the hearing will be conducted in the manner any of us would like," he said. "It seems likely that FIFA has made its decision weeks ago. So, none of us should be completely surprised if a guilty verdict is returned."
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