Barry: Tevez will be a big loss for Manchester City
The central midfielder mourns the departure of his former colleague but wishes the controversial Argentine good luck at his new club, Juventus, where he expects him to succeed
Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry says that he is sad to see Carlos Tevez depart for Juventus.
The 29-year-old completed his move to Turin on Wednesday for a fee beginning at £10 million, a transfer which brings to an end his four-year spell at the Etihad Stadium.
Tevez played a major role in City's rise to the top of English football in recent seasons, helping them to win the FA Cup in 2011 and the Premier League title in 2011-12.
"It will be a massive loss for Manchester City," Barry told Sky Sports.
"He has had a fantastic few years there and he has been fantastic to play alongside. To hear that news is quite sad but he will go and do a great job wherever he goes."
Tevez is City's top scorer in the Premier League era with 58 goals
Manchester City back in Pole position for Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski
MANCHESTER CITY are reviving their interest in Robert Lewandowski to replace Carlos Tevez.
And City could tempt Borussia Dortmund to sell by offering Edin Dzeko in a cash-plus-player deal.
City officials sounded out Lewandowski’s agents about a £25million move to the Etihad Stadium towards the end of last season but were told his mind was made up to join Bayern Munich. Manchester United were given the same message.
But Dortmund are refusing to sell Poland striker Lewandowski to Bayern having already lost midfielder Mario Gotze to their main rivals in the Bundesliga.
With Lewandowski threatening to run down the final year on his contract and leave for free next summer, City are hoping Dortmund will decide to cash in now, and they will be able to tempt the player to come to England by offering the same £200,000-a-week contract that Tevez was on.
Tevez is expected to sign a three-year contract with Juventus today after arriving in Turin for his medical.
Manchester City need a striker to replace Carlos Tevez after the Argentine moved to Juventus
The 200 hours of community service he was ordered to fulfill after being found guilty of motoring offences earlier this season are not believed to be a problem. He has undergone most of the service and will either complete the remaining hours before he joins up with Juventus, or apply to the court for special dispensation because he is moving abroad, and pay some compensation.
After selling Mario Balotelli to AC Milan in January, Tevez’s departure leaves City with only two senior strikers – Dzeko and Sergio Aguero.
Even though new boss Manuel Pellegrini is understood to want to use a 4-3-3 formation next season, he will need more than just two strikers to cope with the amount of games City hope to be playing as they target recapturing the Premier League title, reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time and runs in both domestic cup competitions.
City insist they have ended their interest in Napoli’s Edinson Cavani while another target, Radamel Falcao, has joined Monaco.
As Liverpool will not sell unsettled Luis Suarez to a Premier League rival, Lewandowski has come back on City’s radar.
Other potential targets could be Swansea’s Michu or Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke.
City will reject interest from Inter Milan in defender Micah Richards, while Samir Nasri is in no rush to leave, despite interest from Paris St-Germain and Monaco, and the fact that competition for places at the Etihad has grown after the recent arrivals of Spanish star Jesus Navas and midfielder Fernandinho.
Nasri said: “I’m up to the challenge and the competition will just make us better.”
BAYERN MUNICH WANT MANCHESTER CITY'S MICAH RICHARDS
Micah wants to know where he stands with his new manager and will then look at his options
New boss Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of Richards and has put the Manchester City defender on his shopping list.
The England full-back made just seven appearances last season following a serious knee problem. But he has returned to full fitness and Guardiola is now set to test City’s resolve with Bayern’s bid.
Richards still has two years to run on his Etihad deal, but City have no plans to offer him a new contract yet and the 25-year-old knows he faces a battle to secure regular first-team football this season.
Pablo Zabaleta has jumped ahead of him at right-back, while Brazilian star Maicon is also competing for the same position.
Richards is still waiting to discover if he will be part of new boss Manuel Pellegrini’s plans.
Inter Milan have also been linked with Richards, but a move to the Champions League holders would be hard to turn down.
A source told Starsport: “Micah wants to know where he stands with his new manager and will then look at his options.
“Bayern have made some enquiries and if a club of that stature want to sign you, then you have to give it serious thought.”
Former City boss Roberto Mancini has backed Carlos Tevez to be a big hit at Juventus.
Tevez has flown to Turin to complete a £10m move to the Italian champions.
The Argentina star suffered a turbulent relationship with Mancini during their time together.
He refused to warm up as a substitute in Munich in 2011 to leave Mancini seething and this led to Tevez going AWOL back to South America.
But despite their differences, Mancini is convinced Tevez will be a good signing for Juve.
He said: “He is an extraordinary player, very capable, with great technique and talent.
“He will certainly do well at Juventus. I can’t wait to see him in action in Italy.”
GOLDEN BOLLOX 27 June 2011
City’s most decorated player, Mike Doyle, passes away aged 64. Doyle played for City between 1962 and 1978 and had won more winners medals than any other City player, skippering the Blues to the 1976 League Cup triumph as well as being an integral member of the team that swept all before them under Joe Mercer.
He made 558 appearances in total, scoring 40 goals during a distinguished career at Maine Road before joining Stoke City for £50,000.
Manchester City set to test Everton nerve with £20 million Baines offer
According to reports Manchester City are ready to move for Everton full-back Leighton Baines.
The Daily Star Sunday claims City are intensifying their interest in the Toffees left-back.
The Merseysiders boss David Moyes is need of funds to bring in new players and knows he has to sell to raise them.
He may not be able to resist what is understood to be an impending £20 million bid from the Eastlands club.
City have been keen on the 26-year-old and sources claim a deal is near. (Click Manchester)
City eye triple transfer coup
... Romero, Savic and Cerci
ROBERTO MANCINI is lining up a dramatic triple swoop for Manchester City.
The Eastlands boss has targeted 23-year-old Fiorentina midfielder Alessio Cerci.
Italian sources claim he is also trying to sign Partizan Belgrade's £7m-rated 20-year-old defender Stefan Savic, a Montenegro international.
And 24-year-old Argentina international keeper Sergio Romero is also on City's radar.
Romero played in all of Argentina's World Cup ties in South Africa and the AZ Alkmaar keeper would be an ideal replacement if Shay Given moves on. It would also create serious competition for current No 1 Joe Hart.
Mancini is leaning heavily on two trusted agents to help pull off the raids - Sergio Berti, who represents Cerci and Savic, and Mino Raiola, who looks after Romero.
Both have helped him in the past with Raiola playing a part in Robinho's £18m sale to AC Milan. Sun
Manchester City in Eto'o swoop .. yawn
Manchester City could make Samuel Eto'o their first close-season signing, according to reports in Italy.
The Blues are currently preparing a £38m offer for Udinese's Alexis Sanchez to see off interest from Barcelona and new bidders Chelsea.
They also want Everton's Leighton Baines and Partizan's £7m-rated Stefan Savic to boost their defence - but are now turning their attentions to Eto'o, say Il Corriere dello Sport.
Eto'o is unhappy at San Siro and has recently been linked with newly-rich Paris St Germain.
City are already close to tying up one striker - Caen youngster M’Baye Niang.
The FA Cup holders are believed to be targeting three marquee signings this summer, plus four or five squad players.Mirror
SNUB COUNT: 117
Isco snubs Manchester City move to complete transfer to Real Madrid
Manchester City have been dealt a significant blow in the transfer market after top target Isco snubbed a move to the Etihad to join Real Madrid.
Manuel Pellegrini had made securing Spain under-21 sensation Isco an immediate priority after taking over earlier this month, but Madrid were always confident of doing a deal.
And despite Isco admitting he would love to link up with his former Malaga boss Pellegrini in the Premier League, Madrid have announced he has chosen to stay in Spain with them.
‘There is an agreement with Malaga and the player,’ announced Madrid Florentino Perez on RNE.
Not good: Manuel Pellegrini has failed to land any of his targets so far (Picture: Getty)
‘Isco will be presented next week, all he needs is to complete the medical examination.’
It is thought that both City and Madrid had agreed a £22million fee for Isco last week, but despite offering favourable terms Pellegrini was unable to convince the player to move.
Isco is now expected to finalise his transfer within days, with a five-year contract already on the table and ready to be signed.
Kolarov: I want out of City
Manchester City defender Aleks Kolarov is eager to follow Carlos Tevez and join Serie A side Juventus. The Serbian left back has told the Blues that the lack of first-team opportunity is the reason he wants to go.
The Serbian left back has told the Blues that the lack of first-team opportunity is the reason he wants to go, and he is not expecting the change of manager to change his own situation.
Juve tied up the £12.8million deal for Tevez after he passed his medical in Turin – and are now set to go back to City in the hope of taking Kolarov.
Early indications are Juve want the defender on loan, and that is unlikely to interest City, who would need to replace him as cover for Gael Clichy.
Said Kolarov: “I’m in contact with my agent, and soon we will understand what may happen.
“I am happy at City but want to play regularly as I said to Roberto Mancini.”
Like Tevez, Kolarov says he is prepared to take a pay cut: “Money is not everything in life and I have no problem in revising my salary. Simply, I want a place in the starting line-up.”
Tevez was mobbed when he arrived in Turin yesterday, and was pictured holding a team shirt at Juve’s headquarters and withing four hours had signed up for the Old Lady.
City are weighing up options for a possible replacement but are in no rush.
The Blues have dropped their interest in Napoli’s Edison Cavani since Manuel Pellegrini succeeded Mancini, but will monitor the situation, especially as the Uruguayan’s £54m release clause expires on August 10.
City will also review their scouting reports on young, promising strikersand Pellegrini wants to assess 21-year-old striker John Guidetti, to see if he could become the Blues’ third striker alongside Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko.
Pellegrini tried to sign Guidetti on loan from City when he was manager at Malaga.
City midfielder Gareth Barry, whose own future at the Etihad is in doubt, said that Tevez will be greatly missed.
“Carlos will be a massive loss for City,” he said. “He had a fantastic few years there.”
West Ham Target Manchester City Ace
Recent reports have suggested that West Ham are interested in signing Scott Sinclair on loan from Manchester City. Since joining City from Swansea, Sinclair has had a torrid time and has hardly played. Everyone knew Sinclair joining Manchester City would be a mistake, and now he is starting to realise why.
Forever West Ham is now on Google+, so be sure to find us on there by quite simply (and rather unsurprisingly) searching ‘Forever West Ham’
Sinclair certainly has talent, but he hasn’t had the opportunity at City to show this. When he was at Swansea, Sinclair really showed what a great young talent he was and I believe that West Ham being linked with him is very positive and I believe he would be a good addition to the squad.
I would definitely take Sinclair at West Ham next season. I would imagine it would be a loan deal, as that it what West Ham are currently looking at due to the majority of our summer budget being used to bring in Andy Carroll. Sinclair has a lot of pace which is something we lack in our side and especially down the right hand side.
Sinclair can play either left or right midfielder and it’s always good to have a versatile player. Another thing that I like about Sinclair is that he can score goals. Sometimes when others aren’t scoring, you need someone else to step up to the plate and he could certainly be that player.
He also has a decent delivery on him, which of course will benefit our main man, Andy Carroll. After spending £15m on Carroll, there is no doubt that he is one of the main players in the team and possibly even the base of our current squad. So we have to look to sign players that will benefit Carroll and Sinclair will definitely do that.
To finish up, Sinclair would be a great loan signing for West Ham. He’s quick, he can score and he will help towards Andy Carroll scoring more goals I’m sure. We have been linked with a fair few wingers, being linked with Sinclair can only be good for the Hammers.
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[/spoiler]GOLDEN BOLLOX: 27th June 1986
Long-serving midfielder Paul Power moves to Everton after making 439 appearances for City over a 13-year period. The former skipper costs the Toffees a token £65,000 but proves an inspired buy as he plays 52 times during the 1986/87 title-winning season, earning Power his most prestigious honour aged 34.
Tottenham's technical director Franco Baldini will hold talks with David Villa, 31, before the end of the week as the London club intensify their bid for the Barcelona forward. DSSC
Arsenal have put together a package to lure Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, 27, to the Emirates. The club's hierarchy believe a signing such as Rooney will help persuade manager Arsene Wenger to sign a contract extension. Daily Star
Liverpool will seek urgent talks with striker Luis Suarez, 26, to assess whether he is in breach of contract following claims from Spain he has agreed personal terms with Real Madrid. Daily Telegraph
And the Anfield club must pay £25m within 10 days if they want to sign 24-year-old attacker Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk. Sun
Real Madrid have offered cash and players - including 25-year-old Argentina winger Angel di Maria - to Tottenham in an attempt to deliver Gareth Bale for newly appointed boss manager Carlo Ancelotti. Daily Mirror
West Ham United are close to signing winger Jefferson Montero by triggering the Ecuadorian's £3m release clause from Mexican club Morelia. The 23-year-old will earn £30,000 a-week in what would be a four-year contract. Guardian
Sunderland have agreed a fee with Le Havre for defender Benjamin Mendy, 18, and have been given permission to hold talks with the player about a move to the Stadium of Light. Skysports.com
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has given director of football Joe Kinnear the names of Aston Villa striker Darren Bent, 29, and West Ham defender James Tomkins, 24, as the club look to strengthen before the start of the season. Daily Mirror
Swansea want to sign Liverpool's 21-year-old midfielder Jonjo Shelvey but will have to pay at least £5m to complete the deal. Daily Mirror
Swansea are also willing break their transfer record fee to bring Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony, 24, to the Liberty Stadium. South Wales Evening Post
Dimitar Berbatov, who has been linked with Galatasaray and Zenit St Petersburg, will see out the remaining year of his Fulham contract, says the agent of the 32-year-old former Manchester United striker. London Evening Standard
Everton, who have been linked with CSKA Moscow's 27-year-old attacking midfielder Keisuke Honda, have made enquiries for two players. Chairman Bill Kenwright made the announcement at a general meeting of Everton shareholders on Wednesday. Evertonfc.com
Those could be Wigan duo Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz. Defender Alcaraz, 30, is available as a free agent while 29-year-old striker Kone has a release clause of £6.5m. Times
Celtic could target Monaco's 27-year-old striker Ibrahima Toure. The Senegalese international scored 18 goals in 35 Ligue 2 appearances last season, but his place has been threatened by the arrival of Radamel Falcao. Tuttomercatoweb.com
Preston North End are hopeful of signing striker 36-year-old striker Kevin Davies, but the former Bolton man is also attracting interest from Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool, Burnley, Millwall and Brentford. Lancashire Evening Post
Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of Spanish international attacking midfielder Isco, 21, from Malaga. Elpais.com
Italian Under-21 captain Luca Caldirola, 22, is to leave Inter Milan for Werder Bremen next season on a four-year deal. Kicker.de
Spanish side Celta Vigo have parted company with midfielder Dani Abalo, 25, who will move to Bulgarian team Ludogrets Razgrad for two years. as.com
Rafael Benitez claims Real Madrid have "recovered their values" after appointing Carlo Ancelotti as manager. Benitez, now at Napoli, faced the Italian twice in Champions League finals. Sun
Premier League newcomers Hull City are expected to announce new contracts for defenders Liam Rosenior, 28, and Paul McShane, 27, in the next few days. It follows the news that defender James Chester, 24, has signed a new three-year deal. Hull Daily Mail
Aston Villa European Cup winner Peter Withe says the club should sell striker Darren Bent, 29, this summer. The England international has two years left on his contract. Birmingham Mail
The Football Association is willing to talk to former England manager Glenn Hoddle, who has recently been outspoken in his criticism of the organisation. Hoddle, 55, is not considered a contender for the England's Under-21s vacancy, however, with Gareth Southgate and Peter Taylor the favourites. Daily Telegraph
Celtic are angered at claims by agent Ivan Modia that his client, 21-year-old midfielder Victor Wanyama, had not been offered an improved contract in his two years at the club. Modia also said Wanyama was refused a move to Queens Park Rangers last summer. Daily Record
Three-time champions of Germany, FC Cologne, dressed their players in 1970s style headbands and hair styles for an hilarious kit launch. DSSC
Switzerland manager Ottmar Hitzfeld, 64, was greeted with broken goal posts and goats grazing on the pitch when he visited the team's planned World Cup training pitch in Guaruja, Brazil. FourFourTwo.com
GOLDEN BOLLOX 27 June 2010
James Milner will stun Aston Villa on his return from the World Cup by handing in a written transfer request if they attempt to block his £28 million move to Manchester City.
Milner has made it clear to England team-mates that he cannot ignore the kind of wages a move to Eastlands would guarantee. Moving to City would even be more lucrative than joining champions Chelsea.
Chelsea have refused to go above £20 million to secure the 24-year-old.
Villa boss Martin O’Neill shelved plans to open contract talks with Milner prior to the World Cup after City made the first of two opening offers to sign him, and Villa officials still hope they can talk Milner into staying.
But City refuse to be put off.
They are even prepared to pay £30m to receive official permission to thrash out personal terms with the player. MIRROR
De Jong to join SWP on City scrapheap
Nigel De Jong is set to become a shock casualty at Manchester City following the Blues’ £24million capture of Yaya Toure.
The Dutch international arrived at Eastlands just 17 months ago in a £16m deal from Hamburg.
But his future is in serious doubt after Roberto Mancini made Toure his first big-name signing of the summer after finally agreeing a deal with Barcelona for the Ivory Coast international.
City now have four defensive central midfielders – with Gareth Barry and Patrick Vieira also in Mancini’s squad – and Vincent Kompany has also been used in that role.
That could make De Jong surplus to requirements, even though he has become a cult hero with the City fans after some tenacious displays.
There would be no shortage of interest in the 25-year-old, who is anchoring Holland’s midfield at the World Cup.
Mancini is ready for a major clear-out of players once he has recruited the signings he has earmarked.
Sunday Mirror Sport revealed two weeks that Barcelona’s Brazilian full-back Dani Alves is on City’s radar, with the world’s richest club ready to pay £40m.
Alves’s arrival would enable Mancini to listen to offers for Micah Richards and Nedum Onuoha. Spurs want Richards, while Sunderland and Everton are ready to vie for Onuoha.
Fans’ favourite Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has failed to agree a new contract with City because of his wage demands, may find himself out in the cold if Valencia’s £30m-rated winger David Silva can be tempted to Manchester. MIRROR
Robinho has decided that he does not want to stay at Eastlands and so Manchester City have offered the Brazilian star to Barcelona.
Robinho, who is leading Brazil's attack at the World Cup, was bought by Manchester City from Real Madrid in September 2008 for €42.5million. However, he has since proved to be an expensive luxury at Eastlands. He was loaned to Brazilian side Santos in January where he has performed consistently well, helping them to the Paulista title.
Spanish daily ‘Sport’ claims that Manchester City regard Barcelona as “one of the few solvent clubs in Europe” and are therefore offering the Catalan giants the chance to sign Robinho , who would be likely to jump at the chance of a move to the Nou Camp.
Although Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is keen on Robinho , the Spanish champions will only consider signing the 26-year-old if the asking price is a lot lower than Manchester City demand. City would hope to recoup much of the huge fee they paid Real Madrid, but ‘Sport’ reports that Barcelona will not pay more than €22million for Robinho . In addition, any bid for the Brazilian would be conditional on first offloading striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic , which looks a distant prospect at the moment.
Although City will hope that Robinho has a good World Cup, which will increase his value, ‘Sport’ speculates that Barcelona may look to sign[/scroll] Valencia’s Juan Mata , who is four years younger than Robinho , less controversial than the Brazilian and would likely cost less.
The news that Manchester City and Robinho have agreed a parting of ways offers an interesting dilemma for the Eastlands club and, having forked out a British record for the wayward Brazilian, his exit could define the club as much as they hoped his arrival would.
Spending £32.75m on Real Madrid's Robinho, beating Chelsea to his signature, was supposed to be the start of it all when the Abu Dhabi United Group arrived with a bang on September 1 2008.
But after revelling in having a genuine world superstar, earning a reported £160,000 a week, and being impressed by some of his early performances, there were few CIty fans crying when he finally left for Santos on loan in January.
Robinho, it seemed, was always destined for petulance when things did not go exactly how he wanted them.
Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini were both criticised, it was always someone else's fault but looking back, it feels like this was never a deal that was going to end well.
Until now, his intentions have been blurred by mixed messages, loving life back at his first club and enjoying being a key part of the Brazil side in the early stages of the World Cup.
But now it appears that after his father and agent met with City's Garry Cook and Brian Marwood, Robinho will be allowed to leave for the right price this summer.
Reports suggest that City could be looking for as much as £20m for Robinho and they are hoping that he continues his fine form in South Africa to help his market value.
Ideally, a buyer will be found immediately and he will not have to return to City, where it has been claimed, he has been a disruptive influence in the past.
Just as City are determined not to be messed when they sign players, this is the first major test of whether they stick to the same ruthless and bullish attitude when it is time for players to move on.
It can only be assumed that just as clubs jack up their prices when City are on the other end of the phone, they will haggle even harder than they normally would when they are trying to take a player out of Eastlands.
Robinho has three years left on his contract and if City believe he is worth £20m, it is in their long-term interests that that is what they get for him, even though the likes of Marseille and Besiktas might offer a quick and easy solution.
After bringing in so many players over the past 21 months, as the squad is renewed, this is a scenario that they will face time and again over the next couple of years and, already, Cardiff are hoping that City will help finance their move to take Craig Bellamy on loan.
What next? City paying all but £5 a week of Joleon Lescott's wages for the defender to play for Altincham?
City have always struggled to live down the perception that they are a bit of a joke and getting this sale right will be key to protecting their growing credibility.
CRAIG BELLAMY has been handed an olive branch by Roberto Mancini and told to drive Manchester City into the Champions League.
The fiery Welshman looked set for a summer exit from Eastlands after a series of fall-outs with Mancini last season.
He has attracted interest from both Tottenham and his home-town club Cardiff.
The Welsh side wanted to make him their marquee signing after the club was taken over by a Far East consortium.
But boss Mancini is insistent Bellamy can still play a major role in pushing City one step further next season.
Despite some fairly public bust-ups, the Italian has told the City hierarchy he holds Bellamy in the "highest regard" and is desperate to keep hold of him.
Mancini believes Bellamy's passion is vital and he wants to maintain a British nucleus to the City squad.
Bellamy, 30, will be used more sparingly next term after a series of injuries restricted his appearances last season. But Mancini sees him as a game-altering alternative.
For his part, Bellamy maintains he will always give 100 per cent for the City cause despite clashing with the club over the departure of Mark Hughes and Mancini's training methods.
He is a hugely influential presence in the dressing-room and that has made life difficult at times for Mancini.
But the manager knows Bellamy has the ability to change matches either in the starting line-up or from the bench. And if that means tolerating a certain level of friction, that is a price Mancini is prepared to play.
Bellamy knows he would not come close to matching his £90,000-a-week wages at any other club. And he is excited by the prospect of new arrivals helping the club challenge for a top-four Premier League slot.
He knows competition will be stiff for a place in the City attack and accepts he will be used next season as an occasional impact player.
And while he and Mancini will never be bosom buddies, Bellamy has a grudging respect for the Italian. NOTW
Man City chase Ziegler
Manchester City continue to raid Serie A in the transfer market, as Roberto Mancini prepares a swoop for Sampdoria’s Reto Ziegler.
The Eastlands side is repeatedly linked with a host of names who ply their trade in the Peninsula.
According to Datasport, City have made enquiries after Sampdoria full-back Ziegler.
He starred for Switzerland in the World Cup, including a 1-0 victory over Spain, and can play as either a full-back or further up the wing.
Ziegler already has experience of the Premier League thanks to his time at Tottenham Hotspur.
It was also reported that Manchester City had a deal with Roma to take Marco Motta.
However, the Giallorossi lost the blind auction with Udinese, so the remaining 50 per cent of his contract went to the Friulani.
