CARL'S "Direct quotes mean something" BOLLOX
YAYA TOURE'S Give me a new contract by Saturday — or I am off.
The Ivorian midfielder is fuming that talks over a new deal have stalled for SIX months.
And Toure’s agent, Dimitri Seluk, last night admitted: “If he signs a contract in the next three or four days, OK. If not, we will not wait any longer and will start negotiations with different clubs.
“Today is Tuesday, so it means by Saturday. We will say ‘Thank you. OK, Yaya will leave in May.’
“I do not feel he will stay at City. This is not about money. He wants to leave because of many reasons.
“He is one of the best players at Manchester City but does not feel the respect of the staff. Only Roberto Mancini respects Yaya.”
The former Barcelona ace, 29, is City’s top earner on £220,000 a week.
But Seluk insists he has not asked for a pay rise and the dispute centres around the club’s delaying tactics.
And Toure, away on international duty for a World Cup qualifier against Gambia in Abidjan on Saturday, is ready to use FIFA rules in his cause.
They state if a player has not signed a new deal by the end of the third year of his contract he can buy out the rest and leave.
Seluk added: “It’s all strange. It’s not normal to have negotiations for six months about a contract.
“They have been talking about small details all this time.”
City’s technical director Txiki Begiristain allowed Toure to leave Barcelona for City when he was the Catalan giants’ sporting director.
And Seluk claimed even owner Sheikh Mansour’s personal intervention may not be enough.
He added: “Maybe if the owner speaks to Yaya, maybe he doesn’t know the details.”
The bombshell news will hit Mancini and spark a frenzy among Europe’s biggest clubs including Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
Manchester City have been hit with two transfer setbacks in one day as both Edinson Cavani and Neymar have distanced themselves from moves to the Premier League champions, according to the Daily Mirror.
A representative of Napoli’s Cavani articulated his desire to remain at the club while the Brazilian starlet snubbed City by claiming he wants to join a “big club”.
Cavani crisis
The Etihad-based club always faced an uphill struggle to secure the signature of the Uruguayan forward after Azzuri chairman Aurelio de Laurentiis slapped a £60 million price tag on the player.
Today, an expensive task appeared an impossible one after Cavani’s representative Gennaro Famiglietti claimed that no deal was forthcoming and his client was keen to stay, report the Mirror.
He told radio station Kiss Kiss, “Cavani loves the club and the city. Few clubs can pay the price for Cavani and this will determine his future.”
“There is no agreement with anybody. The player is ambitious and wants to win titles with Napoli.”
Neymar no-show
The 21-year old Samba maverick managed to compound City’s misery by excluding them from a list of the clubs he would “dream” to play for.
The Mirror also reports an interview in which the coveted winger talks of his admiration for Barcelona as well as some of Europe’s other elite clubs.
He said: “Who wouldn’t dream about playing alongside Messi, Xavi and Iniesta- they’re all great players.”
“I dream of playing in Europe, for a big club club like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea.”
“Yes, Barcelona impress me the most, but there’s no point in speculating when I’ll leave Santos. I’ll leave when I want to.”
The DSSC understand that a pre-contract agreement has already been put in place for Neymar’s eventual transfer to the Nou Camp.
However, transfer speculation linking him with a move to City heightened when the club’s willingness to pay the compensation necessary to supersede the standing agreement was revealed.
Napoli and Manchester City are set to battle for the services of Sampdoria's Argentine U20 international striker Mauro Icardi, 20. talkSHIT
Out of the Blue? Manchester City's Scott Sinclair is a summer target for Aston Villa
Everton are also looking at Team GB winger who's started just two Prem games for the champions following £6.2m move from Swansea
Aston Villa are plotting a summer raid for Manchester City flop Scott Sinclair.
The 23-year-old winger has, as widely predicted, failed to establish himself at the Premier League champions after a £6.2million summer move from Swansea.
Sinclair more than quadrupled his £10,000-a-week salary when he quit the Welsh club last August, but he has made just two League starts for Roberto Mancini.
Of his 12 appearances in all competitions, nine have been as a substitute.
Sinclair, who played for Great Britain in last summer's Olympics, is now poised to consider his future this summer.
Villa and Everton are among a clutch of Premier League clubs who rate him and Villa, if they avoid relegation, could steal a march on the Merseysiders, whose manager David Moyes' future is up in the air
Blue's star Richards targets Derby comeback
He's had a five-month spell on the sidelines for Manchester City after surgery to sort out a knee injury picked up last October
Micah Richards has trained his sights on next month’s derby showdown with United as he plots his comeback from injury.
The 24-year-old has missed the last five months after undergoing surgery to correct the knee problem he picked up during the 1-0 win over Swansea in October.
It was the second set-back of an injury-hit season for the England defender, who was only four games into his return after suffering an ankle injury while on duty at last summer’s Olympics with Great Britain.
Richard’s revealed yesterday that he was hopeful of resuming full training after the international break and didn’t rule out a first-team return at Old Trafford on April 8.
He said: “In the last 10 days I’ve been training outside again, doing two days of running and then a recovery day after that.
“I had a big fitness session on Tuesday and I’m starting to feel really good again so, when the lads are back from international duty, I should be taking part in partial sessions with them as I continue to close in on a return.
“I think the Newcastle match will come too soon for me, though I hope to have been training normally by then.
“Realistically, I’m looking more to the game away to United and then the FA Cup semi-final, maybe against United again, to be properly involved again – two relaxing games in a week on the horizon!
“I’ll be trying my best to get back into the squad and it will be great just to be back among the lads and getting a feel for everything again.”
It is another boost for City boss Roberto Mancini who is hopeful two other injury victims, Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero, will be fit for City’s next game against Newcastle on March 30.
James Milner praises Roy Hodgson's influence on England
James Milner believes England have steadily improved since Roy Hodgson took charge of the side.
Hodgson was named as England's head coach in May last year and had little time to prepare for Euro 2012, which saw the team lose on penalties against Italy in the quarter-finals.
Milner feels England have made great strides since they struggled to retain the ball against the Italians and is full of optimism ahead of two World Cup qualifiers with minnows San Marino on Friday and group leaders Montenegro four days later.
"The squad is in a really good place at the moment. The longer we work with the manager, he is going to get his ideas over as well and you will see improvements in the team," said the Manchester City midfielder.
"You can see that already since the Euros. We started there from a strong base and maybe didn't quite retain the ball as well as we could have done.
"Our forward play was not as good as it could be but that's improving all the time I think we are moving forward all the time and the performances are improving as well.
"That's a positive sign. The squad is changing all the time, there are younger players coming in, but we have still got the mix of the senior players as well."
England are expected to claim a healthy win over San Marino, but Milner insists the players must treat their opponents with respect as they move towards a testing match against Montenegro.
Milner said: "We need to make sure we concentrate on San Marino first. We know if we play anything like our best we should get a positive result.
"We have to make sure we go there and do that and concentrate fully. Then it's a tough trip to Montenegro.
"We know it well. We have been there before. It will be tough but if we play to our potential and keep improving, I am sure we will get two positive results."
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Arsenal are interested in signing Barcelona's Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez. The 24-year-old has endured an underwhelming season with the Spanish league leaders and could be available. DSSC
Liverpool and Manchester United are likely to face competition from Real Madrid for Paris St-Germain's highly rated 20-year-old Italy international midfielder Marco Verratti. talkSHIT
QPR boss Harry Redknapp plans to make another bid for Toulouse's France international defensive midfielder Etienne Capoue, 24, in the summer, but admits a deal could only happen if the club remain in the Premier League. Metro
Chelsea have valued goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at £20m in a bid to scare off any interested clubs. The 20-year-old has excelled during two loan spells at Atletico Madrid but has admitted he is several seasons away from challenging current Blues number one Petr Cech. London Evening Standard
Meanwhile, Cech, 30, has rubbished suggestions he could move across London to play for Arsenal. skysports.com
Norwich hope to take advantage of Aston Villa's faltering contract negotiations with 21-year-old striker Andreas Weimann. The Austria international, who has scored 11 goals this season, has just over a year left on his current deal. DSSC
England midfielder Frank Lampard, 34, yet to be offered a new deal by Chelsea, says a move to the MLS in America would not have to mean the end of his international career. Daily Mirror
Per Mertesacker, 28, has dismissed suggestions he will quit Arsenal for a return to Germany in the summer. Metro
CSKA Moscow are preparing a move for Netherlands international winger Eljero Elia, 26, who is thought to be a target for Liverpool and West Ham. talkSHIT
Getafe's Algerian midfielder Medhi Lacen, 28, says he is unaware of interest in him from Swansea but he would be prepared to make a move to the League Cup winners. This Is South Wales
Brighton manager Gus Poyet says he will bring in a new striker before the loan transfer window closes on 28 March. The Argus
After Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Cahill all withdrew from the England squad, manager Roy Hodgson may use central midfielder Michael Carrick as an emergency centre-back in the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro. The 31-year-old has previously filled in there for Manchester United. The Times
Newcastle defender Steven Taylor, who has been called up as a replacement by Hodgson, has said that previous England manager Fabio Capello told club boss Alan Pardew he thought the 27-year-old was a midfielder. Guardian
Stoke boss Tony Pulis, 55, has angrily denied reports he is ready to leave the club at the end of the season. Stoke Sentinel
Reading hope to appoint a new manager before the weekend, with Russian owner Anton Zingarevich due to fly in to talk to prospective candidates, thought to include former Southampton boss Nigel Adkins, 48. Guardian
Blackburn insist they want a big-name manager to replace the latest departee from Ewood Park, Michael Appleton, and Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez, 52, is thought to be on their list. Daily Mirror
Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes, 38, is to return to action for Manchester United in next week's Premier League game against Sunderland after a two-month injury absence with a knee problem. The Telegraph
German sides Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen are interested in signing Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, 21, who is currently on loan at Werder Bremen. Bild
Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez, 33, has pulled out of Friday's World Cup qualifier against Finland in Gijon, but may play against France in Paris four days later. El Pais
France striker Karim Benzema, 25, says he will not be forced to sing the national anthem before the World Cup qualifier against Georgia on Friday, despite criticism on social media networks and from the country's National Front party. Le Monde
Juventus coach Antonio Conte, 43, has allayed fears that he is ready to quit the club, despite suggesting he was ready to leave Italy earlier this week. Speaking to Italian media, he said he hoped to become Juve's version of Sir Alex Ferguson, who has been in charge at Manchester United since 1986. Tuttosport
The CEO of Malaga, Vicente Casado, has "categorically" denied that the club is about to be taken over by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), owners of Paris St-Germain. L'Equipe
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, 30, has already started thinking about his retirement plans by playing a role in a new short-film. Is Pepe going down the same route as Vinnie Jones and lining himself up a post-football acting career? 606 newsletter
Everton's Leighton Baines, 28, arrived at England's St George's Park training base for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers carrying his guitar case. Metro
GOLDEN BOLLOX 20-3-2010
Robinho set for early City return due to Santos salary row
The Brazil star, currently in his homeland on loan at Santos, is at the centre of a dispute over who is responsible for paying his wages.
Robinho joined Santos from City in January on the condition the club would pay his £160,000-a-week wages, which they planned to meet through sponsorship.
But with Santos reportedly having been unable to raise the necessary finance to pay his wages, the player’s loan move could ultimately fall through.
That could mean a return to Eastlands for the 26-year-old, who has hinted at a return to Manchester by paying the £2million rent on his Cheshire home until January 2011.
Although reports that Robinho was not paid for his first month with Santos have been denied, it is understood there are serious concerns future payments may not be met.
In order to raise the cash to take him on loan, Santos agreed deals with three sponsors, all of whom would benefit from using the player’s image to sell their products.
Now one of those deals is said to have collapsed, while the other two, with Seara and Volkswagen, have still to be agreed by all parties.
With average crowds of just 10,000 and gate receipts totalling little more than £60,000 per game, Santos cannot afford to pay him without the aid of sponsors.
Robinho, who moved to Santos to save his World Cup place after falling out of favour at City, has been an instant hit at his new club, with four goals in five games.
MCF.NET THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=31018
Arsenal and Man City target Yaya Toure rules out move to Premier League
Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure has ruled out a move to the Premier League - even though he claims Manchester City and Arsenal want to sign him.
Toure, younger brother of City captain Kolo, said: “I have heard about interest from Manchester City and Arsenal but my future is at Barcelona.
“I have spoken to the directors at the club, I don’t want to leave and my only mission and is to stay and be a success at the club.”
Mancini reassures Ireland
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has reassured Stephen Ireland that he remains part of his plans.
Ireland's long-term future at City has been the subject of speculation in recent months after failing to hold down a regular place in the side under Mancini.
The former Republic of Ireland international has made only 15 league starts this season, and he is again likely to be on the bench for Sunday's trip to Fulham.
Ireland's lack of action has perplexed some fans who believe he should be in the side given his ability to unlock defences and score goals.
But Mancini insists Ireland is an important player for the team and play a key role until the end of the season.
"I have a lot of respect for Stephen Ireland because he is a good player," said Mancini.
"In the week of the Chelsea game he had an injury. But now he has recovered and is ready to play.
"I have a number of options in midfield and Stephen is an important player for us."
Meanwhile, Javier Garrido is hoping to earn a regular run in the side to fill in for the injured Wayne Bridge.
Bridge faces a month out after undergoing a hernia operation and Garrido is expected to replace him at left-back at Fulham.
"Hopefully I will get my chance to be involved in the team," Garrido told the club's official website.
"I did not play for a while when Mark Hughes was here but when Roberto took charge he gave me an opportunity almost straight away.
"That gave me a lot of confidence and I think that showed through in my performances. "
Garrido knows the importance of victory at Fulham as City chase a top-four spot and he wants his side to show more consistency if they are to achieve their ambition of qualifying for the Champions League.
"They try and play good football and so do we, but they have definitely had the edge over the past three or four seasons," added Garrido.
"But there is no reason we can't win this game - we need a victory to keep the pressure on the teams around us.
"I think every team who plays us now wants to beat us because of what has happened to the club in the past couple of years.
"I think sometimes we have had a stronger mentality against the best teams and the results against Arsenal and Chelsea have proved that to be true.
"But we have to have that same focus against every team we play if we are to finish in the top four."
GOLDEN WAG 20-3-2010
[spoiler][youtube]GAI7jTWvlXw[/youtube][/spoiler]
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