Manchester City boss Mancini linked with shock move to Russia
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has been linked with a shock move to take over the Russia national team and media reports in Russia claim he could be appointed as early as next week.
Mancini, who took charge at City in 2009 and led the club to their first league title in 44 years last season, was previously approached by the Russian FA with regards to coaching the national team following the departure of Guus Hiddink in 2010.
On that occasion, the Italian decided to remain with City, but according to Denis Bistrov, a football correspondent for Russian sports website, Sports.ru, he has again been approached and offered a six-year deal worth €7.2 million a year, twice his current City contract.
In addition, it has been claimed City will be given €20 million in compensation and that Mancini is currently evaluating his options.
It was widely reported last week that Mancini, who has entered the final 12 months of his current deal, had been offered a new four-year, multi-million pound contact by City.
While it does not come as a surprise that Mancini has been approached, particularly given the list of high-profile managers who have also been considered by the Russian FA, namely Pep Guardiola, Fabio Capello and Luciano Spalletti, it would be a major shock if he decides to leave the Premier League champions for the Russia job.
Furthermore, the reports linking him with the Russia role could be used by Mancini's representatives to leverage more money from City during the negotiations for Mancini's new contract.
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=43432
Jolie good show as Edin Dzeko meets Angelina at Sarajevo film festival
The Bosia international was attending the country's annual film festival with new squeeze Amra Silajdzic, where he met the famous actress
After taking a trip back to his native Bosnia, the 26-year-old visited the annual Sarajevo Film Festival to take in the latest landmarks in motion picture.
However, he got more than he bargained for when he bumped into the one and only Angelina Jolie! Like we said, one lucky man.
Extra Time is not going to guess what was said but we would imagine it would have been regarding his lack of starts at the Etihad Stadium. Again, it was a guess…
He tweeted: "Thanks Angelina for returning to Sarajevo. It was an honor to meet her! (sic)"
The other attractive brunette, standing next to the famous pair, is Dzeko’s latest girlfriend, Amra Silajdzic. Some may recognise her from a brief cameo in American TV show Entourage.
Jolie was receiving the Heart of Sarajevo Honorary Award at the Bosnia film festival due to her newly-directed film In the Land of Blood and Honey "keeping the truth about wartime events in Sarajevo and Bosnia-Hercegovina alive".
Manchester City target RVP wants trophies, says former Gunner
Former Arsenal star Sol Campbell understands how Gunners captain and Manchester City target Robin van Persie has lost patience with the club.
Campbell, who was a key part of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' side in 2003/04, believes the Dutchman, who has announced he will not sign a new deal at the Emirates, has become disillusioned with the club's lack of competitiveness for top trophies.
Van Persie's current deal expires at the end of the season and the striker looks certain to leave this summer - a position Campbell can appreciate.
"I can understand why Van Persie has decided not to sign a new contract," the former England defender told the Daily Mirror.
"When you go back to your club for pre-season, and you look around the changing room, you want to see top players around you and think, 'Yeah, we're going to do something this season. This is where it's happening'.
"That's what van Persie is looking for. And maybe he's had a look and thought, 'Is this it?'
"Robin has seen the good times, and been part of the good times, and he wants more of it. Basically, his statement is shorthand for saying his patience has run out, and that he can't wait for ever if he's going to win major trophies in his career.
"From the outside, it looks as though he wants to go to a club who will start the season expecting to win things, not just to be in contention with a lot of ifs, buts, maybes and strings attached."
Campbell believes reconciliation is not impossible, but thinks Arsenal would have to make some serious statements in the transfer market.
"Maybe he could still sign a new contract if Arsenal rustle up £100m from somewhere and make a serious statement by signing three world-class players," he said.
"But they lost Fabregas and Nasri last summer, so we've been here before and I don't see how it's going to be any different this time.
"Arsenal have established this model of financial prudence, they have a fantastic new stadium, they are bringing the club's debt down ahead of schedule and everything is tickety-boo off the pitch.
"They are making money, they are in good shape and everything is well-run... but they are not winning. The real sting is in the punchline."
New Bolton man Matt Mills delighted with Manchester City progress
Defender Mills, 26 later this month, made just two Premier League appearances for the Blues against Chelsea and Wigan.
But he has kept in touch with several former team mates and was delighted when the Blues won their first Premier League title last season. Now, he wants to help Wanderers return to the top flight and to rub shoulders with the Blues again next year.
“I loved the area during my time at City so this was one of the attractions of joining Bolton,” acknowledged, the Leicester-born star.
“If there was anywhere I was going to choose it was going to be the north west.
“I came through the City ranks with the likes of Joe Hart and Micah Richards who I am still in touch with.
“It’s fantastic to see where they’ve got to since I was there.
“And from being a part of it I still hold the club close to my heart and still follow their results, especially when your friends are playing for them.
“To see the boys winning the league was just fantastic.”
Mills joined City from Southampton but admits it was hard trying to hold down a regular first-team spot.
“I had limited opportunities because I was young and there were better players in front of me.
“So, I took up the opportunity of stepping down to Doncaster to try and forge myself a career.
“But the intention was always to try and get back in the Premier League and hopefully I can do that with Bolton.”
BRIDGE LOAN
With the transfer window now open, Manchester City has unloaded disgruntled and unwanted left-back and former English international Wayne Bridge. Bridge has joined Brighton and Hove Albion FC on a season-long loan.
This is quite the fall from grace for the former Chelsea defender. Brighton is playing in the npower championship, England's second division. Seagulls boss Gus Poyet stated his admiration for his Bridge capture, saying:
"I'm absolutely delighted to have Wayne with us. He's been one of the top three left-backs in this country for many years. There were a lot of things that had to come together to make it happen."
Bridge was gifted a very large contract when he was purchased for £10 million in 2009. Bridge is just one of the many overpaid and underachieving players still under contract at the Eastlands that is simply not in the plans of Italian manager Roberto Mancini.
Mancini will look to continue to offload these staggering weekly wages that were granted by his predecessors. Still, strikers Roque Santa Cruz and Adebayor will be needing new homes before the start of this new season.
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=43426
OTHER BOLLOX
Brendan Rodgers is close to making Roma striker Fabio Borini, 21, his first signing as Liverpool manager after lengthy negotiations in Italy. Daily Telegraph
England striker Jermain Defoe, 29, has been told he cannot leave Tottenham by new manager Andre Villas-Boas. Daily Mail
Luka Modric, 26, is close to agreeing a £28m deal to leave White Hart Lane for Real Madrid. talkShyte
Aston Villa and Sunderland want £9m-rated Real Mallorca defender Ivan Ramis, 27, who turned down the chance to join Everton two years ago. Full story: the Sun
Newcastle have turned down the chance to sign Blackburn winger Junior Hoilett, 22, but are closing in on Australia Under-20 international Curtis Good, 19, from Melbourne Heat. Newcastle Chronicle
But QPR are in for Hoilett with a bid that tops a rival offer from Everton. Sunderland and Germany's Borussia Monchengladbach are also interested. Daily Mirror
Tottenham are set to battle rivals Arsenal for Italian keeper Emiliano Viviano, 26, who is co-owned by Serie A sides Inter Milan and Palermo. Daily Star
Belgium international Jan Vertonghen, 25, will hold talks with Ajax in a bid to resolve the dispute which is holding up his £9m transfer to Spurs. London Evening Standard
Spurs are set to make a third bid for Internacional striker Leandro Damiao, 22, after seeing the Brazilian side sign a potential replacement in Uruguay's Diego Forlan. Daily Mirror
But his Internacional team-mate Oscar , 20, has revealed he has no plans to quit the Brazilian club, despite Tottenham lodging a £10m bid for the midfielder. Metro
Preston manager Graham Westley, 44, has allegedly sent a text message to eight of his players telling them to stay away from pre-season training. Daily Mail
Ex-Arsenal defender Sol Campbell, 37, tells his former club that the only way of keeping Van Persie is by embarking on a £100m spending spree. Daily Mirror
And Nigel Winterburn, another former Arsenal player, has warned the Gunners they are in danger of becoming Premier League also-rans unless they stop the exodus of players. talkshyte
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood says attacks on the way the club is run are "utter rubbish". the Guardian
QPR owner and chairman Tony Fernandes has warned Joey Barton, 29, that he will not tolerate a repeat of the player's behaviour when he was sent off at Manchester City on the final day of last season. the Sun
Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic, 30, hopes to be fit for the start of the new season after returning to training with the first team. Daily Mail
Nicolas Anelka, 33, is plotting an instant return to the Premier League after his relationship with Shanghai Shenhua soured, following an angry spat with a fan over bowing. Metro
GOLDEN BOLLOX
A look back from the archive - April 2009 ...
Manchester City have been linked with a move for Boca Juniors midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme.
IM Scouting
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill wants to reinforce his defence with the capture of Manchester City's Richard Dunne for £6m and Portsmouth's Sylvain Distin for £4m. (Sunday Express)
Chelsea captain John Terry has dismissed his long-term agent Aaron Lincoln. His decision comes after a summer of speculation linking the defender with a big-money move to Manchester City. (The Sunday Times)
Everton are likely to report Manchester City to the Premier League over their persistent pursuit of defender Joleon Lescott. (Various)
Portsmouth have been forced to renegotiate payments to other clubs and agents with Sulaiman Al-Fahim's protracted takeover still not finalised. (The Mail on Sunday)
David Gold and David Sullivan will attempt to buy West Ham after agreeing to the £80m sale of Birmingham City to Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung. News of the World
Arsenal are keen to improve the terms of midfielder Cesc Fabregas's current Emirates contract, worth around £90,000 a week, to ward off interest from Barcelona. News of the World
The pitch at Wembley Stadium will be relaid for a sixth time since the venue reopened in 2007 after the U2 concerts held at the venue over the weekend damaged the surface. (Sunday Express)
more bollox later on
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