... same old BOLLOX
There’s an unfamiliar look about Mancityfans.net this morning’s but not to the media reporting ...
The names of Isco, Edinson Cavani, Carlos Tevez and Aleksandar Kolarov have been regular fixtures in back page transfer rumours this summer – and there’s no sign of that changing any time soon.
We start with news that the race for the signing of Isco has taken another turn, with World Cup winning midfielder Zinedine Zidane reportedly stepping in to offer assurances to the Malaga midfielder ahead of a potential move to the Bernabeu.
Mark Ogden of the Telegraph believes that Zidane’s counsel could play a big part in deciding the talented playmaker’s next port of call.
“Zinedine Zidane has threatened Manchester City’s attempts to beat Real Madrid to the signature of Isco by offering personal assurances that the £30m-rated midfielder will play regular first-team football at the Bernabeu,” Odgen said.
“However, with City growing in confidence that the lure of regular football under former Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini would convince Isco to reject Real for a move to the Etihad, Zidane’s intervention has now left Real expecting to secure his signature.
“Former Real captain Zidane, now director of football at the Bernabeu, is understood to have held several discussions with Isco’s father to allay fears that the player would be overlooked in Madrid.”
Elsewhere, Tevez is being heavily linked with a move to Serie A, with Juventus thought to be leading the chase and he may be joined in Italy by Kolarov, according to the Daily Mail.
“Juventus have revived interest in Aleksandar Kolarov at Manchester City,” writes Simon Jones in today’s Mail.
“The Italians have already discussed a £9million move for his City teammate Carlos Tevez.
“Juventus, who won last season's Serie A title by nine points ahead of runners-up Napoli, see utility player Kolarov as a perfect addition to give their squad strength in depth.”
It wouldn’t be a media round-up without mention of long-touted City target Cavani.
The Uruguayan is expected to lead the line in his nation’s Confederations Cup game against Nigeria tonight but he’s found time to quash any notion that his future is decided although it’s believed the 26-year will leave Napoli this summer.
Cavani told Globo Esporte: "Everyone wants to play for the biggest clubs in the world, clubs with a lot of tradition.
"But nobody knows my future, I don't know anything. I only know that I am a Napoli player. The truth is that there is nothing concrete, nothing official."
Pay up: Blues told Isco will cost them £30m
The La Liga side have been banned from UEFA competition next season after running into financial difficulties
Malaga have warned City they won’t be allowed to sign Spain starlet Isco on the cheap.
The La Liga side have been banned from UEFA competition next season after running into financial difficulties.
But vice-president Moayad Shatat has declared it won’t stop Malaga holding out for the full £30m buy-out clause written into Isco’s contract.
Shatat, talking at a press conference to unveil Bernd Schuster as Manuel Pellegrini’s successor, hinted that he did expect the
21-year-old to leave the club this summer but told City they will have to stump up the cash if they want him.
Shatat said: “He’s a magnificent player, very important to us and if the offers do not match what we are looking for then we will not sell the player.
“We will only sell for the right price and that price has been set. We have no need to sell if the price is not right.”
City are facing a battle with Spanish giants Real Madrid for Isco’s signature and, as revealed in yesterday’s M.E.N. Sport, privately they have cooled their interest in Napoli striker Edinson Cavani to make the Spaniard their top summer target.
He is expected to make a decision on his future after returning from holiday following his starring role in Spain’s triumph at the European Under-21 Championship in Israel.
Earlier this week Isco revealed he was considering offers from both City and Real but admitted the lure of being reunited with Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium was an attractive possibility.
Isco said: “There are offers on the table from both clubs. Those are the two clubs that have shown the most interest. I hope to decide soon because I still have a contract with Malaga.
“I know that City and Real Madrid are both huge clubs. I hope that whatever I choose will be the best for me and for Malaga.
“It’s true that I know Pellegrini already, I know how he works and he has been fundamental in my career during the two years I have been at Malaga with him.
“It’s a point in favour that we worked together and that I know how he works but it’s not definitive.”
Kolarov and Tevez top Juventus list as Italian giants look to City for double-deal
Juventus have revived interest in Aleksandar Kolarov at Manchester City.
The Italians have already discussed a £9million move for his City teammate Carlos Tevez.
Juventus, who won last season's Serie A title by nine points ahead of runners-up Napoli, see utility player Kolarov as a perfect addition to give their squad strength in depth.
Tevez has been a long-term target for the Italian giants, and despite scoring 17 goals for the Premier League runners-up last term questions still remain over his happiness to stay at the club.
Serbian Kolarov made 32 appearances for City last season, netting six goals.
GOLDEN BOLLOX : 20 June 2001
Kevin Keegan wastes no time in finding a dressing room leader when he signs Stuart Pearce on a free transfer from West Ham United. With City hoping to get back to the Premier League at the first attempt, Pearce is installed as captain and signs a one-year deal, taking on coaching responsibilities, too. It will prove to be a wise move by Keegan as Pearce soon proves there is life in the old dog yet.
City can win Champions League – Fernandinho
The Brazilian international, a £30 million signing from Shakhtar Donetsk earlier this month, says the fans deserve to taste success in Europe’s top tournament for the first time.
Fernandinho reckons City can be the best in Europe
Fernandinho believes that City have the ability to win the Champions League in his first season with the club.
The Brazilian international, a £30 million signing from Shakhtar Donetsk earlier this month, says the fans deserve to taste success in Europe’s top tournament for the first time.
“I hope it will be an excellent performance from City in the competition,” Fernandinho told the M.E.N.
“That would motivate the supporters and lead us to the final games of the competition.
“A cup would be incredible, and the best in Europe? I believe we can do it.”
The 28-year-old central midfielder, who spent eight years in Donetsk, is desperate to run out at the Etihad Stadium for the first time when the Blues play Newcastle on the opening day of the season.
“What I really want is to play as soon as possible for City,” he added.
“They are excellent players with great stories in football, but the reality is it doesn’t matter who we play against – all I want is to play and help City to win.”
Playing in the Premier League has been a dream for Fernandinho, and he is looking forward to the derby against United, in particular.
“Nowadays all teams are hard to beat,” he said.
“Each team has a different playing style. But I believe that the larger clubs in the Premier League – like United – will be beyond any doubt the hardest ones, due to the quality of their players and their tactical organisation characteristics.”
And with the World Cup in his homeland just 12 months away, Fernandinho has set his sights on making the Brazilian national team by impressing with City.
“It's all very close and the time passes very quickly,” he said.
“Everybody is getting ready for this great event. I hope next year everything can go smoothly and I can play for my country after starring for my new club.”
Former Man City Player May Return To Help Kick Off The Pellegrini Era.
The fans were heavily opposed to it, but it didn’t matter. Roberto Mancini is out and Manuel Pellegrini is in at Manchester City. The Chilean manager is known to encourage exciting, attacking football, and he looks set to continue with his philosophy with the club having signed flair players Jesus Navas and Fernandinho. Other technical players have been linked, with Isco mulling over an offer from the club. Fiorentina’s David Pizarro, according to Sky Sports, who is keen to leave Florence and return to Manchester for a second spell, is also being linked.
Pizarro made seven appearances for Manchester City in all competitions during his six-month loan spell there for the second half of the 2011/2012 Premier League season. He didn’t get as much action as he would’ve liked to get under Mancini. However, given Pellegrini is his compatriot as well as the fact that he had a wonderful debut season with Fiorentina, 33-year-old Pizarro expects things to go better the second time around.
And why shouldn’t they? He is a player of great quality, though down in years. Even with regard to his age, he could mentor the likes of Jack Rodwell, who, despite being plagued by injuries in recent years, is still a player with great potential.
His experience would help Pellegrini’s philosophy take shape at the club. It certainly worked out that way at Fiorentina under Vincenzo Montella.
Pizarro, with a Performance Score of 1,721, was La Viola’s best player this season, even despite missing nine games. Stevan Jovetic may be attracting all the attention, but the Squawka Performance Score tells the whole story: Pizarro played a bigger part than the striker in what was a hugely successful (and disappointing, considering they narrowly missed out on Champions League football) season for Fiorentina
GOLDEN BOLLOX : 20 June 2010
Manchester United Consider Shock Move for £12m Rated Manchester City Youngster
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is rumoured to be lining up a shock bid for Manchester City defender Micah Richards this summer. The England international has found his first team chances limited since Roberto Mancini arrived at Eastlands and has been linked with a move away from the club and could now be the subject of a potential bid from the Old Trafford club.
Ferguson is looking to boost his defensive options in light of continuing injury concerns over Rio Ferdinand the very real possibility that Nemanja Vidic may leave the club in the summer. A number of potential targets have emerged in recent weeks from the likes of Neven Subotic to Brede Hangeland but the fact that Richards can play at full back and in the centre of defence is said to interest the wily Scot.
The £12m rated 21 year old has been linked with a move to both Tottenham and Aston Villa in recent weeks after starting just half of Man City’s Premier League matches last term. Micah Richards has struggled to live up to early expectations that came as a result of an astounding breakthrough 18 months when his form made him an England regular.
The arrival of Joelon Lescott and Kolo Toure last summer greatly affected Richards chances of playing in his preferred position of centre back and it seems fairly likely that the Birmingham born youngster could be set for a move and would surely jump at the chance of a move to near neighbours United if the chance presented itself.
Manchester City Believe First Team Football Will Help Seal £22m Real Madrid Playmaker Deal
Dutch Master Van der Vaart Considers Options
Roberto Mancini is lining up a big money bid for Real Madrid’s forgotten man Rafael Van der Vaart. The Dutch playmaker has barely had a look in at the Bernabeu and even though last term he was promised a more prominent role in the first team picture he found his chances even more limited than before. The Manchester City boss believes that the promise of a guaranteed starting eleven spot could help the Eastlands side beat off stiff competition for the 27 year old.
With the arrival of Jose Mourinho as the new Real Madrid boss the former Ajax and Hamburg man will probably feel he is even further away from establishing himself at the La Liga giants as the “Special One” considers new additions that will push Van der Vaart further down the pecking order.
The lack of first team football has even affected the midfielder’s usual regular spot in the national team set-up, in fact his presence in the starting eleven for the first two group games is mainly due to injury to Arjen Robben.
A move to Manchester City will surely tempt Rafael and the promise of a huge pay increase alongside the ability to command a extended run of regular football may well be too tempting to turn down.
Nigel De Jong: Manchester City can win Premier League
Dutch star looking for glory...
Manchester City midfielder Nigel De Jong is hoping he and his team-mates can launch a Premier League title challenge next season.
De Jong, who is currently in South Africa for the World Cup with Holland, joined City last January for a fee of £16 million from German side Hamburg and he is now hoping for glory.
“Is there a chance we can win the Premier League next year? Yes, but we’ll see,” De Jong told the Daily Star
“There’s always something about winning a trophy and you always have to aim high.
“There’s nothing better than the No.1 spot.
“That’s our aim but let’s just see how the City players settle in again this year.”
The Dutchman is hoping that the players will be more experienced after a full season playing together.
He added: “Last year was our first season with a new squad. Next season we’ll be even better.
“There is one goal at this club. To be at the top. That’s why players come here.”
City begin the new Premier League campaign with a trip to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham, the team who beat them in the race for the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot last season.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Napoli's former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is planning to move for the Reds' Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, 26, as a replacement for Edinson Cavani, also 26. Daily Mirror
Hulk's agent has hinted the striker could leave Zenit St Petersburg this summer, with Chelsea, Paris St-Germain and Monaco all keen on the 26-year-old Brazilian. talkSHIT
Steve Bruce has agreed a £2.25m deal to take Birmingham defender Curtis Davies, 28, to Hull City. He is also interested in signing Leicester's 26-year-old goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. Telegraph
Bruce is also offering striker Carlton Cole, 29, a Premier League lifeline following his release by West Ham. Sun
New Everton manager Roberto Martinez wants to sign Birmingham winger Nathan Redmond, 19, in a £3m move. The Sun
QPR forward Jay Bothroyd, 31, wants to leave Harry Redknapp's side after invoking a relegation clause in his contract. Daily Star
Real Madrid frontman Gonzalo Higuain, 25, agrees personal terms in excess of £130,000 a week with Arsenal ahead of a club-record £22m move. Daily Mirror
Newcastle chief scout Graham Carr is considering his position at the club after managing director Derek Llambias quit following the return to St James' Park of Joe Kinnear. Independent
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher says striker Luis Suarez will not sulk like Fernando Torres did when he was unhappy at Liverpool. Daily Express
Sheffield United manager David Weir, 43, wants his ex-Everton team-mate Scott Gemmill, 42, to be his assistant at Bramall Lane. Daily Express
Cardiff will pay Blackpool £8m for winger Tom Ince, 21, although his former club Liverpool have an option to match the bid. DSSC
St Mirren captain Jim Goodwin, 31, says it is 'ridiculous' their game with Celtic has been postponed so the SPL giants can play Liverpool in a friendly. Daily Record
Henrik Larsson came out of retirement at the age of 41 to play alongside his 15-year-old son Jordan for Swedish fourth division side Hogaborg. The younger Larsson was among the scorers as his side beat Tenhult 4-2. Swedish newspaper Expressen
GOLDEN BOLLOX : 20 June 2011
JUVENTUS UP CARLOS TEVEZ BID .... Zzzzzzzzzzzz
JUVENTUS are planning to up their bid for Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez.
Reports in Italy suggest that Juventus are ready up their initial £20million bid for Carlos Tevez.
Tevez snubbed a lucrative £200,000-a-week offer earlier this month because he was waiting for an offer from Spain.
However, Manchester City have yet to receive an offer from Barcelona or Real Madrid, meaning Tevez will be forced to stay in England.
His agent, Kia Joorabchian, said: "I don’t think speculation about Carlos leaving is fair at the moment. I don’t think money is a consideration.
"Maybe it’s a case of his family coming over to him. That’s something he’s trying to sort out. I’m sure in the next week he will sort the family issue out. Once he does, he will announce it and everyone will be in a better place.”
Tevez has wanted a move away from Manchester since the end of the season. He claimed last month on Argentine television that there is nothing to do in Manchester.
The former Manchester United striker also moaned there were only two good restaurants and that it rains all the time.
GOLDEN WAG
[spoiler]
Nigel de Jong has declared himself happy at Manchester City and believes he is in a "good position" with regards to his contract, which is moving into its final season.
There has been plenty of speculation over the future of the 27-year-old midfielder due to his failure thus far to agree a new deal at the club he joined from Hamburg in 2009 for a fee reported to be around £18million.
But the Holland international has told Dutch magazine NU Sport he wants to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
"My contract runs for another year, so I'm in a pretty good position," he said.
"I would like to stay. I've been at the club for more than three years and I'm enjoying myself.
"I have won the two biggest trophies in England - the FA Cup and the league title.
"I've seen the club develop from total chaos with the training facilities into a top club, and that's very satisfying to see."
De Jong started only 11 league games last term, having battled an ankle problem early on and then struggled to break back into the side.
However, he played a key role in City's late charge to the title as they overturned Manchester United's eight-point advantage in the final month of the campaign.
"It is part of the job that I sometimes sit on the bench," De Jong said. "We have a rotation system. Ideally I would play in every game, but the team comes first and we won the title, so it was all worth it." Independent
Lescott stands tall for England after Terry-Ferdinand furore
England ensured safe passage to the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 with a 1-0 victory over Ukraine on Tuesday evening, a hard-fought three points that saw Roy Hodgson’s side soak up a great deal of pressure exerted by the co-hosts. It was a game that required and received a sturdy defence, with Manchester City’s Joleon Lescott central to it.
Lescott was in danger of becoming the forgotten man in England’s defensive unit. The build-up to the tournament and the announcement of the squad itself was dominated by rumours surrounding the possible inclusion and exclusion of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, and then by the fall-out due to the involvement of the former and not the latter. Then as that particular furore died down came the double fractured jaw suffered by Terry’s Chelsea teammate Gary Cahill in the final pre-tournament friendly against Belgium, depriving Hodgson of another option in defence. While every manager no doubt desires as many alternatives as is practical, the absence of Ferdinand and Cahill has allowed Lescott to flourish.
The former Everton defender has arguably kept up the good form that began during City’s successful assault on the Premier League. When revealing Lescott had been ranked highly for his performances in the opening two Euro 2012 games by Fabio Capello’s player rating index, the Manchester Evening News wrote: “[Lescott], who along with Vincent Kompany provided the foundation for City's Premier League title success, has looked solid for Roy Hodgson's side so far,” while the Guardian quoted Lescott’s City teammate Micah Richards as describing Lescott as the best English defender on show last season. Richards said: “I can't name an English centre-half who has had a better season. He just doesn't get the credit he's due and I don't know why that is. I really don't know. All I can say is that if you watch our games he's been unbelievable.”
The same Guardian article that quotes Richards also reveals that as of the time of publication, June 5, Lescott had only once before started three consecutive international games. Lescott has since recorded that feat again through the three group D games and, barring injury will make it a fourth appearance in a row in the quarter-final with Italy. England reached that point by conceding three goals in as many games, one against France and two against Sweden, while Lescott was on target in the opening match against Laurent Blanc’s side, confirming that his contribution has been felt at both ends of the pitch. That goal incidentally renders Lescott as England’s joint-highest scorer, as all the other players to find the net have also done so on a single occasion.
Defending is nevertheless a team effort and Lescott’s colleagues deserve praise too, not only for some of their individual performances but for easing the lesser-experienced Lescott into the side. Yet if the issues around Ferdinand were not so complicated and Cahill had not injured his jaw, the City defender would be sitting on the bench, a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change at international level.
Manchester City linked with move for Manchester United target
Manchester City are being linked with a move for Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria, according to reports in the Daily Star.
The Argentine winger has been a target for City’s local rivals Manchester United for some time, although in recent times, Monaco have also been linked with the star.
A Manchester City move for the winger all depends on Real Madrid signing Gareth Bale from Tottenham, and that does seem unlikely, at least this summer.
Di Maria has failed to cement himself in the Real Madrid starting team on a regular basis, and there could be a mass exodus at the club this summer, with Higuain, Benzema and Ronaldo all linked with moves away.
Manchester City have just signed Fernandinho and Jesus Navas, but reports suggest they are not finished there, and want to add as many stars to their team as possible, even if that means some of their own players will leave.
Di Maria has made 137 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring on 25 occasions since joining in 2010
Man City faces Balotelli reunion
Manchester City faces a possible reunion with former striker Mario Balotelli in Germany this northern summer.
It has now been confirmed City will play Balotelli's current club AC Milan in its semi-final at the four-team Audi Cup in Munich in July and August.
The controversial Balotelli left City in January after an eventful two-and-a-half-year spell at the Etihad Stadium.
Host Bayern Munich and Brazilian club Sao Paulo are the other clubs taking part in the two-day competition, which will see games played at the Allianz Arena on 31 July and 1 August.
Another former City player, Nigel de Jong, could also be in action for Milan while Jerome Boateng, also once of the English side, now plays for European champion Bayern.
City also take part in the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong in July along with Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland and South China FC.
Former Manchester City man on trial in New York
Bradley Wright-Phillips, half-brother of England international Shaun and son of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, is on trial with MLS side New York Red Bulls. Wright-Phillips, who is currently without a club having not had his contract renewed by Charlton Athletic, has been brought over on trial by former Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh, who is the sporting director of the Red Bull-owned club.
It represents something of a fresh start for the 28 year old midfielder, who has been surplus to requirements at The Valley throughout last season. A spell on loan with League One side Brentford proved relatively fruitful with five goals in fifteen league appearances, but Uwe Rosler was not keen to retain him either. Prior to Charlton, Wright-Phillips played for Plymouth Argyle and Southampton, having started his career with Manchester City. He has also played for the England U20 side on five occasions.
Roxburgh has referenced these youth team appearances as a sign of potential on an mlssoccer.com article. Yet at 28, Wright-Phillips will know that this is a gilt-edged opportunity to carve a career in the USA, although Roxburgh was keen to point out that any such move depends on the midfielders’ ability to get on with the current squad. He will also have to bide his time if he expects first team football, with the Scotsman pointing out that squad depth is at the front of his mind.
However, Wright-Phillips has to impress in the trial first before even thinking about an MLS bow.
CELEBRITY CORNER BOLLOX
Take that! Liam Gallagher brands Robbie Williams a 'f***ing fat f***ing idiot'
Liam Gallagher has reignited his feud with Robbie Williams, calling the Take That singer a "f***ing fat f***ing idiot" after he performed at the home of his beloved Manchester City.
Gallagher's new band Beady Eye played at the 1,500 capacity Ritz in Manchester last night, the same night as Williams played the second of four shows at the Premier League side's 60,000-seat Etihad ground as part of his Take the Crown stadium tour.
The 40-year-old laid into Williams, 39, before the show, calling him a "clown".
He also criticised the music-buying public, saying Beady Eye would not be playing big gigs until people "pull your f***ing finger out and buy the f***ing records".
Asked why Beady Eye were playing the Ritz while Williams was playing to tens of thousands, Gallagher told BBC 5Live they were a "proper live band" but that "the bulls*** is winning".
"It's a small gig. Beady Eye ain't a big band, we're that big," he said.
"Everyone thinks we're going to announce big f***ing stadiums. (The Ritz) That's the level we're at and we'll stay at that until you pull your f***ing finger out and buy the f***ing records."
He added that people who thought Beady Eye should be playing stadiums just because of his Oasis success were "living in the past".
But in a reference to Williams, he added: "And we should be playing the Etihad three nights, not some f***ing fat f***ing idiot."
He continued: "It could be any f***ing clown. I think it's a shame that he's doing three nights (sic) and a band like us are doing one night in the Ritz. Poor, mate. It's not about him, it's people in general. But it's about f***ing him, just in case you think I'm scared or something."
It is not the first time Gallagher has taken aim at Williams. The Take That star was originally mates with Liam and his brother Noel and famously partied with them at Glastonbury in 1995 around the time of his acrimonious departure from the boyband.
But they later fell out after Noel called him "that fat dancer from Take That".
In 2000, Williams challenged Liam to a televised boxing match for £100,000 while collecting a Brit Award for his solo work.
GOLDEN BOLLOX : 20 June 2012
Manchester United fan puts 'KUN 16' numberplate up for sale after Sergio Aguero wins title for City
A United fan is selling his unusual licence plate – and hopes City star Sergio Aguero will make the biggest bid.
Dafydd Ryder Owen, 27, bought the plate – KUN 16 – after he heard rumours the Argentinian striker was going to sign for his beloved Reds.
Instead Aguero, whose nickname ‘Kun’ appears on the back of his shirt, signed for rivals the Blues last summer – leaving Dafydd being mocked by both United and City-supporting pals. His squad number for his country Argentinia - and City - is 16.
Bank worker Dafydd says that after United’s 6-1 home defeat to City last season, in which Aguero scored the third goal, having the personalised reg on his car became unbearable.
And the sight of the numberplate has become unbearable after Aguero scored the last-gasp goal which snatched the title away from United.
He said: “I’ve got loads of stick from my friends. I paid in the thousands for the plate, but to be honest I am still seething after that humiliating loss at Old Trafford.”
Dafydd hopes Aguero, whose last-gasp goal against QPR ripped the Premier League title from the Reds and made City champions, will take the plate off his hands.
And to sweeten the deal he has said he will donate half the sale price to a children’s charity. He said: “I want to sell it, and if Sergio buys it, I am willing to give 50 per cent of the proceeds to UNICEF.”
Aguero’s father-in-law Diego Maradona is a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. His nickname was coined by his grandparents who thought he looked like the Japanese cartoon character Kun Kun as a child.
Dafydd, from Wales, said: “I am sure some wealthy Manchester City fan would snap it up.
“But it would be cracking for Kun, and it’s only fair to offer it to the player first.
“If he was to buy them, a donation to UNICEF only seems fitting.”
