When Chelsea agreed to invest £32million in the young Belgium forward Eden Hazard and pay him £175,000 a week back in May, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was quite happy for his club to withdraw from that race.
It was, the City boss felt, just too much money for a 21-year-old from the French league.
Fast forward two months or so, however, and Mancini is feeling rather less phlegmatic about life.
.On Sunday at Villa Park, City face Chelsea in the Community Shield. Chelsea have bought four players since winning the FA Cup and Champions League last season. Since they became Barclays Premier League winners, City haven’t bought anyone.
Mancini has occasionally endeavoured to disguise his frustration and his irritation. At other times, he hasn’t. All that is important — all that is relevant — is that City’s defence of their title is about to begin with this as its theme.
Asked yesterday about City’s progress in the transfer market, Mancini said: ‘I know that for you these questions are more important than the match but for this you should talk to Brian Marwood, not with me. I don’t want to talk about the market. Talk with Marwood please.
‘My talk today is for the game against Chelsea. That is more important. I’m not sporting director, I can’t say anything regarding players.’
Listening to MancinI, his frustration was evident. By not saying much, he in effect said everything.
Privately he feels Marwood — the club’s football administrator — has been too slow to seal a deal for Arsenal’s Robin van Persie, his No 1 summer target, thus letting neighbours Manchester United edge them out of the race.
It’s unfair to blame one man, of course, or indeed to take sides. Marwood acts, after all, on the say-so of his chairman in Abu Dhabi, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and also has the ramifications of UEFA’s financial fair play rules to consider.
Nevertheless, when he was asked yesterday if he was happy with Marwood’s role, Mancini was categorical. ‘I’m not happy but I won’t say anything at the moment,’ he said. Behind the scenes at the Etihad there is irritation at Mancini’s persistent sparring. For his part, Marwood has — perhaps wisely — said nothing.
On the field, meanwhile, it remains to be seen if the Italian’s suggestion yesterday that Manchester United will start the season as favourites — the bookies prefer City — is justified.
‘I think United start as favourites this year,’ he said. ‘We are maybe second, third or fourth.
‘I’m confident with my players. We won the last championship because we deserved to win.
‘In my opinion we have a good team but we built this team two years ago.
‘I think that it is impossible that two years ago you did everything perfect. You still need to improve.
‘For example, I think that Chelsea needed new players because they lost Didier Drogba.
‘Probably they needed to buy new players but also because every team, every year can bring in one or two, three players, young players.
‘When you win it is important to bring in new players, young good players for the future. This is a good way to do it.
‘I think you should buy players not 10 days before the end of the transfer window but two months before the end because the championship finished in May and you need to buy players at that time
Final preparations: City duo Mario Balotelli and Ya Ya Toure arrive at training on Friday morning
‘Now is difficult because the other teams that want to sell their players have no time to bring in other players and that makes it very difficult.’
City are no longer involved in negotiations for Van Persie, even if the door is never completely closed when you are the richest club in the world. ‘Van Persie is not our player,’ said Mancini. ‘He is an Arsenal or United player.’
As regards Liverpool’s Daniel Agger, Roma’s Daniele De Rossi and Swansea’s Scott Sinclair, negotiations have not progressed.
Something will move, of course. It has to. Chelsea, though, will perhaps start favourites tomorrow, if only because they have enjoyed a more settled build-up to the game.
For the London club this could be a pivotal season. Last year’s Champions League success will mean nothing this season if they cannot make progress in the Premier League while, as unfortunate as it is to suggest, Di Matteo may look rather vulnerable if his team do not hit the ground running.
The Chelsea manager will perhaps be glad once the season starts. At City, meanwhile, relief will come only when the transfer window closes. Mail Reporter
PSG striker reveals City snub
Paris St Germain striker Ezequiel Lavezzi says he has no regrets in moving to the French capital instead of Manchester City.
The Argentina hitman, 27, has revealed that Roberto Mancini was very keen on taking him to the Etihad Stadium, but he opted to make his £24million switch from Napoli to PSG instead because he preferred to live in the city.
"When two clubs are as ambitious as one another, that is what will make the difference - the city where you live.
"This is the reason that made me choose Paris. For life outside football, I think that Manchester has nothing in common with Paris... I am already settled in here, in a house in Neuilly-sur-Seine."
Lavezzi, whose wife was mugged in Naples shortly before City's Champions League clash with the Serie A club last season, is determined to add to PSG's two french titles during his four-year contract with the club.
"For me, personally, to have signed in Paris is a beautiful challenge. It's a short-term project - win major trophies, including the UEFA champions League."
Man City turn down £40m Balotelli bid from PSG... but only after Mancini threatened to quit
Paris Saint-Germain offered a staggering £40million to lure Mario Balotelli to France – but the bid was swiftly rejected after Roberto Mancini vowed to quit if his star striker was sold.
Balotelli has been the subject for a number of high-profile bids this summer after enjoying an impressive European Championships.
But Mancini is determined to keep the controversial striker - despite his indifferent displays last season – and threatened to hand in his notice at the Barclays Premier League champions if the City board accepted PSG's offer.
The Italian, who hit out at City chief Brian Marwood on Friday over the lack of transfer activity at the Etihad Stadium this summer, admitted there has been substantial interest in Balotelli.
'This summer we had a lot of requests for him,' said Mancini.
'Mario did a fantastic European Championship. He's 21, it is clear that he can improve.'
Balotelli is in the squad for Sunday's Community Shield clash with Chelsea at Villa Park.Sportsmail Reporter
MANCINI: SELL BALOTELLI AND I'M OFF
MANCHESTER CITY have rejected a £40m bid for Mario Balotelli from Paris St Germain after Roberto Mancini threatened to quit.
PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti made Balotelli one of his top targets and was confident of luring the Italian striker to France.
But his huge offer was snubbed when Mancini told his bosses he would walk out on the Premier League champions if his fellow Italian was allowed to leave.
Mancini was determined to keep Balotelli, despite the star being one of the most controversial players in Europe following a string of crazy antics both on and off the pitch. Starsport understands Mancini told the Blues board to forget about cashing in on Balotelli and focus on selling unwanted stars like Emmanuel Adebayor.
Mancini admits there has been strong interest in Balotelli this summer following his Euro 2012 displays.
He said: “Mario did a fantastic European Championship. He’s 21, it is clear that he can improve.
‘This summer we had a lot of requests for him.”
Mancini, meanwhile, appears to have run out of patience with sporting director Brian Marwood.
Mancini hinted that Marwood has blown the Blues’ chances of landing Robin Van Persie and fears his side will struggle to defend their league title.
Van Persie looks poised to join Manchester United while Mancini has also failed to land Daniel Agger and Daniele De Rossi.
He said: “I’m not happy, but I won’t say anything at the moment.
“We have 20 days until the end of the market. I think you should buy players not 10 days before the end, but two months before the end." Star
Keeper Joe Hart inspires Shrewsbury youngsters
England goalkeeper Joe Hart returned to his Shrewsbury roots to inspire the next generation of footballers.
The Manchester City number one grew up in Shrewsbury and played for Shrewsbury Town.
He made an appearance at Prestfelde School in London Road yesterday.
Joined by his father Charlie, the star was dishing out the silverware after a tournament for boys and girls aged five to 12 being held on the school grounds.
The event was the culmination of week three of the HD Sports World Ltd Joe Hart Soccer School, taking place in Shrewsbury during the school summer holidays.
It sees groups of children from across Shropshire hone their skills with expert coaching, culminating in a mini tournament at the end of each week.
Yesterday, youngsters from Shrewsbury, Whit-church and Bridgnorth were among those who got to rub shoulders with their hero Joe. Charlie said: “Joe really likes to come back to Shrewsbury whenever he can.
“He thoroughly enjoyed the grass roots game as a child himself so he believes it’s really important to support it now he’s playing professionally.”
The football schools have helped keep summer holiday boredom at bay during July and August for about 120 children.
Man City keen on South Korea star
Manchester City are weighing up a cut-price move for South Korean left-back Yun Suk-Young.
The Premier League champions are looking for a back-up to Gael Clichy as Aleksandar Kolarov is expected to leave the club this summer.
And City's scouts have been impressed with Yun, who has starred for his country at the Olympic Games.
The 22-year-old kept Craig Bellamy quiet as South Korea beat Great Britain on penalties in their quarter-final clash, and City have also had him watched at training sessions.
And they may now make a £1m bid for Chunnam Dragons defender Yun.
The player is keen on the deal having seen fellow countryman Park Ji-sung thrive at Manchester United, and City must now decide whether to make a formal bid for the youngster.talkSPORT
Liverpool are lining up Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin, 26, as a replacement for Daniel Agger if the Dane joins Manchester City. Metro
Manchester City and Tottenham target Fernando Llorente, 27, is wanted by Juventus, who have had a bid of £14m rejected by Athletic Bilbao.
Man City set to bid mega money for Barcelona's Tiki Taka
Manchester City are considering making one of the shock moves of the transfer window by launching a sensational bid to sign Barcelona's Tiki Taka.
Frustrated by City's lack of transfer activity so far this summer, manager Roberto Mancini wants to inject some class into the Premier League champions and was alerted to a possible deal after Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers revealed his plans to bring Tiki Taka to Anfield.
"Mancini is under pressure to get results in the Champions League," revealed our City insider, who sneaked into the Etihad Stadium dressed as club mascot Moonchester. "Sheikh Mansour heard that Tiki Taka had helped Barca win the Champions League, as well as contributing hugely to Spain's success and has instructed Mancini that money is no object - City are prepared to bail out the Spanish banks to bring Tiki Taka to Manchester."
It appears City have now moved ahead of Liverpool in the race to bring Tiki Taka to the Premier League, while Chelsea are also rumoured to be monitoring the situation, with Roman Abramovich reportedly keen to replace his false number nine (otherwise known as Fernando Torres). talkshite
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[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
£15m was a bargain! I would have paid 'many more millions' for Allen says Rodgers as Reds eye THREE more signings
Clint Dempsey, Adam Johnson and Nuri Sahin could yet all sign for the Anfield club as Brendan Rodgers shuffles his pack ahead of the new season
'I would have paid many more millions for this kid': Brendan Rodgers is delighted to have signed Joe Allen
Brendan Rodgers reckons Joe Allen will provide a vital ingredient as he attempts to cook up a top four challenge from his new look Liverpool side.
The Anfield manager welcomed his £15million star signing to the club on Friday night by insisting Allen is so good that he could almost be mistaken for a Spaniard.
Rodgers couldn't disguise his joy at securing the Wales international, admitting he would have paid even MORE for the 22 year old, because of the player's ability to get on the ball and dictate the tempo of the game.
Allen completed his medical and - despite a late hitch at the Swansea end - eventually signed a £45,000-a-week contract, and immediately Rodgers was proclaiming he had brought a rising star to the club.
"This boy, when you see him play you'd think he was a Spanish player, a real European player - I would have paid many more millions for this kid," the Kop boss enthused.
"He has so much courage to get on the ball and play. he is in love with the football, he loves it, he wants it all the time. He's unique in that he is a British player who just does not give the ball away. You will see that and the difference he can make.
"He's incredible on the ball, his work is very intelligent - for a 22-year-old it's frightening. His game understanding is very, very good and and I think he will fit in really, really well with all the other players we have here."
Allen was at Anfield to see his new side perform impressively in easily dealing with Belarus side FC Gomel to progress through the Europa League on Thursday night, and the Reds will now face Scottish side Hearts in the final preliminary round.
He was forced to wait until late last night before getting his dream move, and the young midfielder couldn't hide his excitement at the prospect of joining a club he is convinced is going places.
"I have a lot of faith that Brendan Rodgers can bring success, that's one of the reasons I'm here - everything is there for us to be successful," he explained.
"I wanted to be part of this project, his project, and I've really got a good feeling - as I'm sure all the players here have - that this football club is going to go from strength to strength in the next couple of seasons.
"Brendan is so passionate about his football. He works day in, day out to improve the team and everyone individually. He commands the respect of everyone and it's no different for me. To join back up with him was definitely a big pull for me."
Allen was still pinching himself last night, as the move finally became a reality. "It was hard to believe at first and very flattering to be linked to a top club like this. I've always been ambitious and wanting to get to the top but getting there is a completely different thing," he said.
"It's a proud day for me and my family. They have supported me through thick and thin for so long that this is as much a reward for them as it is for me. I feel proud, I'm really thrilled and I'm looking forward to my time here."
Rodgers believes his side will only improve as they get their heads around the style he wants to implement and take impetus from the new signings he will bring in like Allen and Italian star Fabio Borini.
The Irishman admitted he is stirred by the prospect of the young midfielder teaming up with a front line of Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Borini that already showed immense promise against Gomel.
"I'm excited about the prospect of Joe fitting in with our front four, because I think even at this early stage, their combination has been excellent," he added.
"I'm sure he'll complement the other clever players we already have here. You look at the movement of Suarez, he really is world class. It is a privilege to work with him, to see him play like that so early on in the season is phenomenal.
"Suarez has that vision and inventiveness in his game, and it is important to get the movement around him to bring it out. We are showing that now.
"Steven in just behind he was so clever in his movement and combination play, he made us really potent, and with Fabio and Stewart Downing coming in from the sides made them really bright and inventive at the top of the field."
Despite already spending more than £25million on Allen and Borini, Rodgers indicated there could be up to three new stars arriving before the window slams shut at the end of August.
Fulham's Clint Dempsey still seems certain to arrive at Anfield despite prolonged haggling between the two clubs has resulted in a tense stand off, and Rodgers wants another winger, with Theo Walcott and City's Adam Johnson on the radar.
The Reds are also trying to tempt Real Madrid starlet Nuri Sahin to join the Rodgers revolution on an initial year long loan, with the manager ready to use his close relationship with Jose Mourinho to seal the deal.
Rodgers is quietly satisfied with the start his side have made as he imposes a new style of play, but he knows there is a long way to go, despite an impressive performance in qualifying for the final preliminary round of the Europa on Thursday night.
And he insisted he will do everything he can to unearth the new stars who can make Liverpool competitive again. "I said when I first came in here that my objective this year was to build a squad which was going to be competitive," he said.
"It's been a bit frustrating for everyone - including myself - that we have not got them coming in quicker, but certainly our hunt continues. It's not easy though, because it's always so complex at a big club.
"What I have learned very quickly here is the minute Liverpool are interested, it adds a couple of noughts onto the price tag of a player. It's absolutely incredible.
"It means we still have work to do in the market. Hopefully between now and the end of the month we will have it done."Daily Mirror
Luka Modric wants to talk to Andre Villas-Boas over his future, with the 26-year-old worried that his dream move to Real Madrid may fall through. Daily Mirror
West Ham will have to pay Wolves around £10m for winger Matt Jarvis after their initial offer of £6m for the 26-year-old winger was rejected. Daily Mail
Jermain Defoe, 29, is being lined up for a move to Sunderland after Martin O'Neill's attempts to sign Steven Fletcher, 25, from Wolves appeared to have stalled. Sunderland Echo
The Black Cats are also prepared to offer 19-year-old Connor Wickham to Wolves in a last-ditch bid to land Fletcher. Daily Star
Ian Holloway wants to take QPR's Joey Barton, 29, on a season-long loan after the midfielder was all set to join Blackpool's neighbours Fleetwood Town.
Fiorentina are interested in signing Giovani dos Santos, 23, from Tottenham. The Mexican has less than a year left on his current contract. talkSHIT
Tottenham are eyeing a move for Inter keeper Julio Cesar and could pick up the 32-year-old on a free because the Italian club want him off their wage bill. the Sun
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley could be set to invest in fallen Scottish giants Rangers. the Sun
Stephen Warnock has been left out of Aston Villa's trip to Germany with the left-back's future at the club still uncertain. Birmingham Mail
Port Vale fans have been helping out with maintenance work at Vale Park to help the cash-strapped club get ready for the new season. Stoke Sentinel
Arsenal Ladies are being linked with a high-profile transfer move for Ireland's Olympic boxing gold medallist Katie Taylor, 26, who is also a talented footballer Metro
more bollox later ...
