Javi Martinez bid

[john@staustell]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... azard.html

Manchester City believe they will capture the brilliant Spain defender Javi Martinez for around £25million.

As the champions cool on a cash shootout with Chelsea for playmaker Eden Hazard, City hope to steal ahead of Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid to sign Martinez.

City are expected to send scouts to watch Martinez play for Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Cup final, when he will face Barcelona in Pep Guardiola’s send-off game.

Martinez, who has seven caps, can also play as a holding midfielder but Sportsmail understands City want him to play alongside Vincent Kompany in their back four.

Martinez has a get-out clause in his Athletic Bilbao contract of €30million, around £24m. All four suitors are expected to match that price but City feel they can tempt him to England and will blow away United with their wages kitty.

Martinez, 23, was the Spain Under 21 captain when they were victorious in the European Championship last year. He also made one appearance for the senior team as they won the 2010 World Cup, where he was included in the squad to give him experience. He has played alongside City’s David Silva for his country, having made his debut in a 3-2 win against Saudi Arabia in 2010, aged 21.

He is seen as the long-term successor to Carles Puyol in the Spain team, playing alongside Gerard Pique. And City are aware that Barcelona want to recreate that central defensive pairing at club level.

Martinez has already transferred for a big fee in his young career, moving from Osasuna for around £4m as a 17-year-old. He has played more than 200 matches for Bilbao and has a scoring record of a goal every six games.

At 6ft 3in, City see Martinez as the ideal man to help shore up their defence, alongside impeccable captain Kompany, the star of their title success this season. Martinez’s match against Barcelona on Friday will be his last for Athletic and then, like Hazard, the Estella-born player must decide between a host of clubs chasing his signature.

Chelsea are confident they will come out on top in the race for Belgium star Hazard — who is poised to face England a week on Saturday — but City don’t expect to be second best when it comes to Martinez

[Superbia]

would be a good buy quality player

[Goaters 103]

Class player, right age and would be an excellent purchase.

However its dart throwing time in the press so Ill believe it when I see him on the mcfc website

[twosips]

Him and Hazard are the two players I want at City next year...

[kinkylola]

Martinez , hazard, cavani/lavezzi ... Repeat title.

[Biamp]

He has been impressive that last two seasons, I have been following him since the euro under 21 in which he led spain to win it. I still think his best position is defensive midfielder. Marcelo Bielsa used him quite often as a center back this season, he has done well there too. I would rather take him over the over priced Hazard any day, if we have to pick between those two.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

He has been impressive that last two seasons, I have been following him since the euro under 21 in which he led spain to win it. I still think his best position is defensive midfielder. Marcelo Bielsa used him quite often as a center back this season, he has done well there too. I would rather take him over the over priced Hazard any day, if we have to pick between those two.

To be fair that's more or less what I said about Kompany when we signed him and look how fantastic CB he became!

I've been impressed with Martinez the times I've seen him. Doesn't seem to make too many mistakes, which is the key. In fact, he is quite similar to our Vincent.

[Alioune DVToure]

I'm going to put my neck out and say I was one of if not the first to tip this lad on here. And I'm not big on the Euro scouting missions (I only really know Spanish football other than English).

I'd be buzzing if he signed. He is the real deal.

[Swales4ever]

I'm going to put my neck out and say I was one of if not the first to tip this lad on here. And I'm not big on the Euro scouting missions (I only really know Spanish football other than English).
sure?
[told You so... :-) ]
I'd be buzzing if he signed. He is the real deal.
I'd too

[Alioune DVToure]

I'm going to put my neck out and say I was one of if not the first to tip this lad on here. And I'm not big on the Euro scouting missions (I only really know Spanish football other than English).
sure?
[told You so... :-) ]
I'd be buzzing if he signed. He is the real deal.
I'd too

Well a cursory search brings up this post of mine from June 11 last year:

It's just occurred to me that [highlight]Javier Martínez[/highlight] should be playing tomorrow night as well - [highlight]another player who I'm always banging on about[/highlight]. Really looking forward to the game but I fear the worst for England.

De Gea
Mata
Martínez
Bojan

Mancienne
Muamba
Cleverley
Delfouneso

Hmmmmmmmmm.

A lot will rest on Sturridge and Welbeck firing. Pretty dangerous partnership that in my opinion.

So I've been tipping him since long before then. If we sign him and he plays ace, I'm having him as a find!

[Swales4ever]

I'm going to put my neck out and say I was one of if not the first to tip this lad on here. And I'm not big on the Euro scouting missions (I only really know Spanish football other than English).
sure?
[told You so... :-) ]
I'd be buzzing if he signed. He is the real deal.
I'd too

Well a cursory search brings up this post of mine from June 11 last year:

It's just occurred to me that [highlight]Javier Martínez[/highlight] should be playing tomorrow night as well - [highlight]another player who I'm always banging on about[/highlight]. Really looking forward to the game but I fear the worst for England.

De Gea
Mata
Martínez
Bojan

Mancienne
Muamba
Cleverley
Delfouneso

Hmmmmmmmmm.

A lot will rest on Sturridge and Welbeck firing. Pretty dangerous partnership that in my opinion.

So I've been tipping him since long before then. If we sign him and he plays ace, I'm having him as a find.

only joking Mate... never been interested in "told U so, stuff"...
still I remember us both agreeing on the issue well before of that post...
not arsed of cursory search...

[Alioune DVToure]

I'm going to put my neck out and say I was one of if not the first to tip this lad on here. And I'm not big on the Euro scouting missions (I only really know Spanish football other than English).
sure?
[told You so... :-) ]
I'd be buzzing if he signed. He is the real deal.
I'd too

Well a cursory search brings up this post of mine from June 11 last year:

It's just occurred to me that [highlight]Javier Martínez[/highlight] should be playing tomorrow night as well - [highlight]another player who I'm always banging on about[/highlight]. Really looking forward to the game but I fear the worst for England.

De Gea
Mata
Martínez
Bojan

Mancienne
Muamba
Cleverley
Delfouneso

Hmmmmmmmmm.

A lot will rest on Sturridge and Welbeck firing. Pretty dangerous partnership that in my opinion.

So I've been tipping him since long before then. If we sign him and he plays ace, I'm having him as a find.

only joking Mate... never been interested in "told U so, stuff"...
still I remember us both agreeing on the issue well before of that post...
not arsed of cursory search...

I'm only excited because most of my tips are rubbish. I failed to mention that I made the above post in a "We Should Sign Bojan" thread started by yours truly!

[Swales4ever]

I'm only excited because most of [strike]my tips are rubbish[/strike].

really? I was drawn to think quite the opposite.

[phips]

looks to be a good player with plenty of time to grow and improve.

i see we plan on going further into debt....

[feedthegreek]

looks to be a good player with plenty of time to grow and improve.

i see we plan on going further into debt....

its only debt when you cant afford it.

[razor400]

looks to be a good player with plenty of time to grow and improve.

i see we plan on going further into debt....

its only debt when you cant afford it.

Its only debt if its borrowed.

[Ted Hughes]

I think we need to be very careful with this bloke if we sign him.

I've seen two sides to him & one side isn't very good at all. We need to ease him in, not throw him in at the deep end. He has a lot of potential mistakes in him if we give him too much responsibility, especially at the back, positionally.

He is also likely to get tired if we give him too much running to do in midfield. If we just sit him in front of the defence and don't ask to much he should settle ok but we need to be very careful & not leave him exposed.

[Swales4ever]

I think we need to be very careful with this bloke if we sign him.

I've seen two sides to him & one side isn't very good at all. We need to ease him in, not throw him in at the deep end. He has a lot of potential mistakes in him if we give him too much responsibility, especially at the back, positionally.

He is also likely to get tired if we give him too much running to do in midfield. If we just sit him in front of the defence and don't ask to much he should settle ok but we need to be very careful & not leave him exposed.

Perhaps You missed I have always suggested a soft integration, having him as a luxury backup for either Yaya and the 2 CBs shirts.... :-)

also, You know I have already established that You are too much of a football expert for pretend not to know that a spell of a couple of month of average/faded form does not affect an already established reputation of huge talent and wise footballer.

cheers Ted

[phips]

looks to be a good player with plenty of time to grow and improve.

i see we plan on going further into debt....

its only debt when you cant afford it.

so the massive losses we just incurred are of no contest for you? nor the FFP?

[bigblue]

good chance to watch him play right now vs Barca