City wing ace Jesus Navas finds real home from home as brother signs for Bury
The wing ace has made a flying start and is joined by his brother as his homesickness becomes a thing of the past
City winger Jesus Navas already looks at home on the Etihad pitch, and it is hoped the once-homesick star will also settle in Manchester – thanks to his brother signing for Bury.
The Spaniard’s career has been hampered by chronic homesickness and there were even times when he would suffer panic attacks if he strayed too far from home.
He opted out of pre-season tours for his local club Sevilla, turned down call-ups to the national side and once had to be picked up by his family from a training camp just an hour away from home.
For a Romany Gypsy Navas was, ironically, very uncomfortable on the road but eventually underwent counselling to try to cure his difficulties.
City hope his problems are now behind him – and their secret weapon in the battle against homesickness is his older brother Marco.
The 30-year-old right-back has moved to the region after penning a 12-month contract with Bury.
Although some might dismiss the signing as little more than an effort to help City’s £14.9m winger feel at home, Bury manager Kevin Blackwell told M.E.N. Sport that Marco has been signed for his footballing abilities.
But he admits City could benefit from the deal – and Blues fans will be hoping his arrival will help their own new man to settle.
Blackwell said: “I think he will bring a bit of technical quality to the club. He’s got a decent pedigree in his own right, never mind his brother’s.
“I haven’t seen his brother yet but I’m sure he will come down to watch – and vice versa. I would have thought it’s a lot easier if you move to a new city and have someone that you know with you.
“It will benefit both brothers. If Marco settles quicker because his brother is here then it benefits us but it will also help City.
“If Navas performs for City like he did on Monday night, then they’ve got a special player and if having his brother here helps City get the best out of him then I reckon City will owe me a favour!”
The younger Navas, 27, is currently living in a Manchester hotel with his wife and young child, while his brother is in Burnley with his family.
They have always had a close bond, with both brothers starting out at Sevilla.
But Marco failed to make the grade at the club and has spent the majority of his career at Recreativo de Huelva.
Now he hopes to break into the first team at Gigg Lane, but Blackwell says he won’t be picked because of his surname.
He added: “Marco is here and he has to get into the team on his own merit. The players see him as one of the lads. He’s settled in very well and the lads have accepted him. He doesn’t speak much English, it’s very limited and most of the lads don’t speak much Spanish, but football is a universal language once you get onto the pitch so it won’t be a problem.
“He’s trying to catch up to everyone else in terms of fitness. I think he’s two to three weeks away from being match fit. We need to work with him to get his fitness levels up.
“It’s great that his brother is here. They aren’t living together but they can pick up the phone to each other and they’re not far from each other – only a few minutes down the road.”
When Navas junior rejected a move to Arsenal three years ago, it seemed he would never leave Sevilla, until City came calling this summer.
He believed he was finally ready to make the move – and felt capable of temporarily leaving behind his hometown of Los Palacios and Villafranca in southern Spain.
It all seems a long way from the sorry saga of 2007 when Navas’s agent informed the media that the star would not travel on Sevilla’s pre-season tour to the United States because of anxiety and stress.
He eventually went to see a psychologist and by 2009 was confident enough to travel with Spain for World Cup qualifiers.
Navas is now a senior international for his country and helped them to World Cup glory in 2010 in South Africa and Euro 2012 victory in Poland and Ukraine.
Since seeking professional help to cure him of his homesickness, there have been no further incidents, but moving to a foreign country was undoubtedly a major step for him.
Speaking after joining City this summer, Navas insisted his difficulties were in the past and that he was confident of adapting to life in Manchester.
He explained: “It was a few years ago now. It’s all in the past and I’ve moved on, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I’m ready for this. This is something that I really want. I’m here to achieve really big things. So that is driving me to adapt here to the football and the culture.”
His former Sevilla team-mate and fellow Spain international Alvaro Negredo has also joined him at the Etihad this summer, providing another familiar face on and off the pitch.
Navas is already learning English and showed flashes of his potential against Newcastle, with blistering pace and signs of a good link-up with Spanish-speaking Pablo Zabaleta.
He will also be helped to settle by Spain team-mates David Silva and Javi Garcia and communication shouldn’t prove too tricky with a strong contingent of Spanish speakers at the club, including Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini and Argentinian Sergio Aguero.
With steps now in place on and off the pitch to help him feel welcome, the Blues will be hoping Navas stays in Manchester for a long time.
Manchester City may have to pay asking price for Martín Demichelis
• Atlético Madrid want £4.26m for the Argentinian
• City have only one match-fit senior central defender
Manchester City have been told they must pay €5m (£4.26m) for Martín Demichelis, as Manuel Pellegrini focuses on the Atlético Madrid central defender now that the pursuit of Pepe has ended because Real Madrid are not willing to sell the Portuguese.
Yet with Atlético placing that price on Demichelis despite him being 32 and having signed just a one-year deal when arriving as a free agent from Málaga earlier this summer, City are keen to pay less. It is thought their valuation is closer to €3m, though the club may find their bargaining position compromised. Vincent Kompany is set to be out for a month because of a groin injury, which would mean missing three league matches; on Thursday the City captain will discover the results of a scan .
With Micah Richards being out for around a month because of a hamstring problem and Matija Nastasic only returning to full training on Wednesday morning following an ankle problem, Pellegrini has Joleon Lescott as his one match-fit senior central defender.
While Demichelis worked under Pellegrini for two seasons at Málaga, if the manager decides not to risk Nastasic for Sunday's trip to Cardiff City he could choose to press either Gareth Barry or Javi García into emergency service alongside Lescott.
Yaya Touré, who scored in City's emphatic 4-0 win against Newcastle United on Monday evening at the Etihad Stadium, believes the side can continue to improve under Pellegrini. "This year we want to do the job," the Ivorian said. "We want to work hard, keep it going, make it as difficult as possible for our opponents and try to be better and stronger. It's important for me and the club. I know how much everyone desires success and that our fans only want to see one Manchester club profit this season."
Touré scored from a set piece at Newcastle and said: "I have been practising my free-kicks for four years now. But I think I got lucky on this occasion. The shot was perfect, so I am very happy. I hope I can continue to score important goals for the team and I think this year is going to be a good one for us."
Gaël Clichy hopes that City can prove as impressive when performing away from the Etihad. "We did work hard during the whole pre-season and that is what the manager wants from us," said the left‑back.
"Away from home it will be more difficult but it is a good way of starting the season. We are going to play like this from today to the last game."
Of Fernandinho, City's £27m summer signing, who made an impressive league debut alongside Touré in central midfield, Clichy added: "He is a Brazilian but he has been in Europe for eight years. He played at Shakhtar [Donetsk] which is a great team that plays good football."
Fernandinho on Manchester City's united nations
Manchester City's £30m Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho chats to Football Focus about the international make-up of the City dressing room.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder says his team-mates communicate using a host of different languages, but promises to "learn English very quickly" as he begins his Premier League career at the Etihad.
Watch the full interview on Football Focus at 11:30 BST on Saturday 24 August.
VIDEO EDIT: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23784250
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri thriving on competition
Samir Nasri says that the competition for places at Manchester City will help to bring out the best of him in time for the World Cup next summer.
The 26-year old came off the bench to make a scoring start to the season in City's 4-0 win over Newcastle United on Monday, following a frustrating 2012/13 campaign when he only netted two Premier League goals.
Manuel Pellegrini's midfield has been boosted by the arrivals of Jesus Navas and Fernandinho this summer, but Nasri says signings will help him to raise his game.
"The competition for places at City doesn't frighten me, it makes me better," he told The Sun.
"I'm full of desire. I want to go to the World Cup and show everyone the real Samir Nasri.
"I've trained with this in mind. I'm much sharper and I feel better.
"I have matured a great deal. I lost my way a bit last season, but I have found myself once again."
Manchester City forced to dip in the market for a defender
Following injuries to Manchester City’s defenders Micah Richards, Vincent Kompany right and Matija Nastasic left, the Premier League runners-up look set to make moves in the transfer market in search for a new defender as cover.
Nastasic may not be out for too long, as reports revealed he’s already back training with the squad. However, he’s said to be nowhere near match-fit, and is likely to still miss their next match against newly-promoted Cardiff City on Sunday.
Real Madrid’s Pepe was said to have been lined up as a potential candidate, but they have yet to make their interest official for the Portuguese international.
Athletico Madrid defender Martin Demichelis is another name said to be on the Manchester City shortlist for potential candidates as centre-back.
City’s Joleon Lescott is the side’s only fit and available face to play at the heart of the defence, which means Manchester City might have to opt for an unfamiliar name to play alongside him for their next game.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini may feel aggrieved centre-back Kolo Toure was released this summer and subsequently joined Liverpool – impressing on his league debut for the side.
It appears unlikely a youth player will be called up to start against Cardiff this weekend, so unless they can bring in an emergency defender, they will be forced to assess their options within the side.
Holding-midfielder Javi Garcia has played at centre-back adequately enough and is the favourite to partner Lescott. He was utilised in that position recently, and may be asked by Pellegrini to fill in once again for the side.
There is no official word Manchester City are actively seeking defenders said to be on their wish list, but they may opt for cover to prepare themselves for any eventuality as they are desperate to win the Premier League title, and can’t afford injuries dictating any potential success this season.
Everton can’t afford the wages of their City target
Gareth Barry has been told he can leave Manchester City this summer, and Everton are ready to offer him a way out of the Etihad.
The Telegraph reports that Manuel Pellegrini, after signing Fernandinho, sees the England international as surplus to requirements and left him out of the squad for the 4-0 thumping of Newcastle United.
Barry has a single year left on his £100,000 a week contract and Roberto Martinez of Everton is keen on bringing him to Goodison Park on loan. However, both clubs will need to come to an agreement on how they will fund the former Aston Villa man’s salary.
Other clubs are also said to be interested in Barry, with the 32-year-old also attracting the interest of Arsenal as they believe he would provide decent cover for Arsene Wenger’s depleted squad. However, it seems that the Toffees are in pole position to land his signature.
The stumbling block remains the midfield man’s wages, with Everton clearly not being able to pay his current wages just for a year long loan, and so surely City themselves would have to contribute towards some of his wages themselves if he is to leave.
The Toffees may be lining up a move for Barry as a potential replacement for Marouane Fellaini, whose a key transfer target for Manchester United as well as The Gunners again.
But City aren’t just selling players, as they themselves may need to delve into the transfer market once again.
After Vincent Kompany’s injury, it is understood that Pellegrini wants to bring in defensive reinforcements. Despite Joleon Lescott and Matija Nastacic fit, he has identified Pepe and Martin Demichelis of Real and Atletico Madrid as targets, or so says The Daily Mail six days ago.
Also possibly leaving the Etihad with Barry is flop Scott Sinclair, who could head out on loan then complete a £4 million move to West Brom next summer as deals are getting wrapped up with only 11 days left in the window.
West Brom: Sinclair deal edges nearer, player due for medical today
West Bromwich Albion remain on target to sign Scott Sinclair - with the player due in for talks and a medical later today.
All being well, the loan part of his deal could get signed off before tomorrow lunchtime, the deadline to ensure he can be involved in Saturday's game at Everton.
There were reports that Southampton, who have just released wide man Jason Puncheon, were ready to hi-jack Albion’s pursuit and pounce for the ex-Swansea man.
Those claims have so far been no more than speculative, with Albion closer than ever to sealing a loan-to-permanent move for the 24-year-old.
The delay in the deal seemingly moving on has been more down to logistics and the details which have needed to be ironed out given the complexity of the deal.
The ‘loan’ deal is effectively already agreed, with Albion expected to pay in the region of £2million for him.
The main sticking points between Albion and City have been over the ‘permanent’ arrangement for the player, which would effectively kick in next summer.
Sinclair has also been trying to negotiate with City over severance payments to smooth through his move.
Crucially there is a will on his part to move to The Hawthorns.
And the player is expected in for talks and his usual scans sometime today.
Sinclair played 14 games for Blues during a loan spell back in early 2009.
Liam Ridgewell, then at St Andrew’s, played alongside the winger, who was on loan from Chelsea at the time.
He fully understands why Albion are investing so much time and effort in trying to recruit him.
“Scott came on loan for a season and then he signed for Swansea that summer,” said Ridgewell.
“He is very quick and very direct and a very good player.
“He has developed into a very good player.
“With any luck we might might be able to get him but I’m sure the gaffer is working on that.”
Ridgewell believes Sinclair’s game has developed when he played alongside him.
“I played against him against Swansea and he had grown up quite a bit from Blues through playing a bit and developed into a really good player,” added the Albion left-back.”
“It would be great to have him down here.”
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Real Madrid are on the verge of completing a £94m deal to bring Tottenham's 24-year-old forward Gareth Bale to the Bernabeu. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy discussed the deal on Wednesday night with the Spanish club. DSSC
Real Madrid want Bale to make his home debut on Sunday 1 September against Athletic Bilbao because the midday kick-off would maximise the global television audience watching his first game in Spain. Daily Telegraph
Chelsea have been told they have hope of signing Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, 27, if the Premier League champions can find a replacement for the England international. Daily Mirror
Manchester United expect the Blues to increase efforts to unsettle Rooney by lodging a third bid for the forward within 48 hours. Daily Telegraph
French side Paris St-Germain could outbid Arsenal for Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye, 27, as the Ligue 1 club prepare a £20m bid. Independent
Arsenal are giving serious consideration to re-signing 29-year-old holding midfielder Mathieu Flamini, who has been training with the club for the past fortnight since his contract expired at AC Milan. Times
Xabi Alonso, 31, is expected to be out of action for three months after fracturing a metatarsal in training. The Real Madrid midfielder's absence will hinder Manchester United's hopes of signing Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, 27. Daily Express
Chelsea are favourites to sign England Under-21 defender Eric Dier, 19, who has a £4.2m buyout clause in his Sporting Lisbon contract. DSSC
Sunderland winger Adam Johnson, 26, is hoping a successful season with the Black Cats can earn him a place in Roy Hodgson's England World Cup squad. Guardian
Former England manager Steve McClaren is competing with ex-Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate and former Manchester United reserve team manager Rene Meulensteen to become the new England Under-21 head coach. Daily Telegraph
Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor does not want to leave the London club despite manager Andre Villas-Boas making it clear the 29-year-old is surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane. Daily Mirror
Midfielder Abel Aguilar, 28, has turned down advances from Spanish sides Valencia, Real Sociedad and Granada, to join French Ligue 1 side Toulouse. L'Equipe
Paris St-Germain have allowed midfielder Clement Chantome, 25, join Toulouse on loan. Sport 24
Fenerbahce fans tried to upset Arsenal's star players before their Champions League qualification play-off first leg by setting off fireworks outside their team hotel on Tuesday night. It did not seem to bother the Gunners who beat the Turkish outfit 3-0. Metro
Tottenham travel to Dinamo Tbilisi for their Europa League qualifying play-off on Thursday, and the last time they played in the Georgian capital, in 1973, they were greeted in a disturbing manner.
"When we went out to inspect the pitch, in the middle was a sort of wooden gallows," says former Spurs captain Steve Perryman. "Hanging by its neck was their idea of a cockerel. Of course, that's our emblem. That was their way of saying welcome!" DSSC
SCUM EMPLOY MORE SCUM
£600,000 ticket touts given job at Manchester United
TWO ticket touts who made more than £600,000 from illegally selling Manchester United tickets have been hired by the club.
Richard Rowe, 54, and his son, also called Richard, were caught selling seats for derby games between United and rivals Manchester City.
The pair loaned season tickets to rich fans, including wealthy Arab businessmen, for individual matches at vastly inflated prices.
Reselling football tickets is illegal. But amazingly the pair have now been authorised by Old Trafford chiefs to resell tickets for the club’s executive Manchester Suite.
Rowe and his son, 30, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, admitted money laundering at the city’s Crown Court and were given 12-month suspended jail terms.
The pair have now been authorised by Old Trafford chiefs to resell tickets for the club’s executive Manchester Suite
“The pair loaned season tickets to rich fans, including wealthy Arab businessmen, for individual matches at vastly inflated prices. ”
They were each ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work.
Jaime Hamilton, prosecuting, said it was likely the pair had made more than £600,000.
He said there was no loss to either club but laws preventing touting were designed to curb grossly inflated prices and ensure crowd management.
It is believed fans who loaned their tickets recouped the full season’s cost.
Tina Landale, defending, said United had relaxed rules on the transfer of tickets as well as giving the Rowes’ new venture a resale licence.
Manchester United officials refused to comment yesterday.
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