Micah Richards has revealed that he turned down a new contract before moving to Fiorentina on loan.
The versatile defender will spend the rest of the season on loan at the Serie A club.
“I was offered a new contract and I had a long think about it. I was offered more money at City, but it's not about the money. It's about playing football now,” he told talkSHIT.
Celtic could still complete a loan deal for Manchester City forward John Guidetti.
The move failed to go through on transfer deadline day as the correct paperwork wasn’t in place.
The Scottish FA confirmed they will contact FIFA to try and get the move approved.
Striker Alvaro Negredo says he was unaware of any interest from Real Madrid before joining Valencia on deadline day.
The Spanish forward returned to La Liga initially on a season long loan from City.
“I heard nothing about Madrid. Valencia was the most favourable offer and the one I wanted,” said Negredo.
Ian Herbert: Frantic deadline-day transfer business by Arsenal and Manchester United shows value of a technical director
A lot of names popped up in that frantic finale to the transfer window, including one who went on national radio claiming to be Danny Welbeck’s agent. The player says he has never heard of him. But it was two quiet men who showed the way at Manchester City and Chelsea – the clubs whose summer business demonstrated to Manchester United and Arsenal that deadline-day chaos is not the only way of doing things.
They were City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain and the Chelsea technical director, Michael Emenalo. Their clubs’ calm pursuit of targets established long before the transfer window opened provided a contrast to the opportunism of Arsenal – who took Welbeck on a five-year deal after he presented himself at their London Colney training ground, seemingly to seek sanctuary from the prospect of signing for Tottenham – and Manchester United.
Begiristain – a gregarious Spaniard and former Barcelona winger – has never given a British media interview and Emenalo keeps an equally low profile, but both deconstruct the notion that technical directors are an unnecessary interference in English football. City owe the success of their system to Brian Marwood, who helped Abu Dhabi to establish the structure. Five years ago he brought in players who caused City to be decried as big spending but whose purchase seems like good value now. Yaya Touré cost £24m, approximately the same price United have paid out for a season of Falcao’s services.
The director of football model went pear-shaped during what can only be described as City’s “Italian period” – the Roberto Mancini years, when he demanded poor value purchases such as Javi Garcia and Maicon. But the relationship between Manuel Pellegrini and Begiristain has been a different story. City began work on this summer’s transfer market last October and secured each of the targets they had laid out – Bacary Sagna, Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando. Everton’s Ross Barkley was identified as a desirable further addition, though the packages that City were confronted with – £50m at one stage – reflected the huge difficulties attached to buying the best British players.
It has been a similar picture at Chelsea, where Emenalo and Marina Granovskaia – Roman Abramovich’s senior adviser, who joined the board last summer – create the same capacity to initiate rapid and pre-planned player acquisitions. When Jose Mourinho arrived back at the club last summer, some doubted whether Emenalo had a future at Stamford Bridge, but he has established a working relationship with the Portuguese which saw the club make the early move for Diego Costa. The striker’s immediate impact has left Arsenal’s supporters wondering why they were not in that particular picture.
They have signed Welbeck instead. Though there is potential for him to resolve the relative lack of goals that haunted him at United – if Arsène Wenger only plays him through the centre – there was real chaos about his acquisition. He says he has never heard of Jonathan Hope, the man who went on the BBC to talk about how he was brokering the deal.
United executive Ed Woodward delivered the kind of squad that Louis van Gaal, now on holiday, will believe he can work with. But figures by the Sporting Intelligence website show that the club paid out a net £122m this summer, over £70m more than the second biggest spenders, Arsenal. Running one of the biggest clubs in the world and developing the relationships with football people that are integral to squad restructuring is a tall order for one man.
Some at United feel that Van Gaal could not work with a technical director. But his successful relationship with Marcel Brands, now at PSV Eindhoven and technical director at AZ Alkmaar during the Dutchman’s successful period there, reveals a precedent. “Van Gaal is not that hot on buying players,” says one Dutch source. At Arsenal, the respected chief scouted Steve Rowley, a Wenger contemporary, provides the know-how. But it takes an eternity to make a decision. The quiet men showed this summer that there is another way.
MCWFC v Chelsea Ladies: Johnston cannot wait
Manchester City Women's Krystle Johnston is counting down the minutes to the upcoming Continental Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea Ladies.
The 30-year-old, who is enjoying the form of her life in the top flight, started her career with the Club and is relishing the chance to help Nick Cushing's side reach their first ever cup final.
Having gained first-hand experience of the team's transformation over recent years, 'Joey' still has to pinch herself to believe their current status.
"I'm really excited for Sunday," she smiled. "It's a fantastic achievement for us to have reached a cup semi-final in our first season in the top division - especially as a new team.
"When I think back to where we were a few years ago - when our kit was brought to the games in carrier bags - it's unbelievable to think where we are now.
"We're at a completely different level and personally, I'm loving every minute.
"I feel very lucky but I have worked very hard and I really appreciate it.
"I want to continue improving and I'm hoping to be selected in the starting line-up for the game. It would be amazing to help the team to the final and to score a goal or two would be incredible!"
Bury-born Johnston also believes the advantage of receiving a home tie can only benefit the Manchester outfit and feels the chosen venue adds to the excitement.
"It's great that we're playing at Hyde," she declared. "I think it will be a really special occasion. The fans will be a lot closer to the pitch than they are at the Manchester Regional Arena so that will help to give us an edge."
The forward also encouraged those fans who are yet to purchase their tickets to do so as soon as possible, as the players are eager to repay the City faithful for their phenomenal backing this season.
"We feel so lucky to have the support we have," she stated. "So far this season, we've had some great turnouts which is a huge achievement in the women's game.
"When we've been to other grounds, there hasn't been the fanbase that we've had so we feel so privileged.
"The semi-final is a great opportunity for fans who haven't watched us yet to see how far we've come."
Johnston is also looking forward to the chance to secure payback against a side who have defeated City twice already this season - once in the FA Women's Cup and again in the league encounter.
"It's the perfect chance for us to get revenge," she asserted. "We cannot wait to walk onto that pitch on Sunday."
Admission for the clash is priced at just £4 for adults, £3 for over-65s and 16-21 year-olds and £2 for under-16s. Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.mcfc.co.uk or at the Etihad Stadium Box Office.
Cityzens members can redeem Ticket Points upon purchase.
Kick-off is at 2pm on Sunday 7 September at Ewen Fields, Hyde. Bring your flags, scarves, inflatables and singing voices.
John Guidetti aims to be new Henrik Larsson
MANCHESTER City striker John Guidetti hopes FIFA will approve his loan move to Scottish champions Celtic despite doubts over whether the paperwork was completed before the transfer window closed on Monday.
The 22-year-old forward rushed to Glasgow on Monday in the hope of following in the footsteps of fellow Swede Henrik Larsson, who achieved iconic status at Celtic by scoring 242 goals in 315 games in his seven years there.
“It was chaos yesterday. I don’t think I ate all day,” Guidetti told newspaper Sportbladet as he arrived on Sweden’s west coast for duty with the Under 21 side.
“It was just wait, wait, wait. Hundreds of fans stood outside the stadium and waited in the middle of the night,” said Guidetti, who had been told that he was surplus to requirements at the City of Manchester Stadium.
It looked like the wait was in vain, for him and the fans, but media in Scotland reported on Tuesday that the Scottish FA had accepted the transfer paperwork and it was now up to world governing body FIFA to judge if the move could be approved.
“I hope that it sorts itself out with Celtic, otherwise I’ll have to stay at City and that’s not the worst thing that could happen,” Guidetti said. “Unfortunately, the papers weren’t finished in time and now it’s up to FIFA to decide.”
Guidetti, who says playing barefoot during five years spent living in Kenya helped him develop his skills, has never played a senior game for Manchester City, who he joined from Swedish club Brommapojkarna in 2008.
He burst on to the scene in the 2011/12 season, scoring 20 goals in 23 games on loan at Feyenoord. Last term he went to City’s Premier League rivals Stoke City on loan, but failed to find the net in six games.
A move to Celtic could be exactly what he and the club need.
After several loan spells, Guidetti is eager for a run of games and Celtic, knocked out in the Champions League playoffs and struggling at the start of their league campaign, are crying out for a new Larsson.
“We did actually talk about the number seven (Larsson’s old shirt),” Guidetti told Sportbladet. “They’re big shoes to fill, but it would have been fun.”
Having granted Celtic a 24-hour extension to the transfer deadline, the Scottish FA is now expected to plead the club’s case to FIFA.
Manchester United are lining up a move for Roma's Netherlands midfielder Kevin Strootman, 24, in the January transfer window . (DSSC)
Liverpool have agreed personal terms on a one-year deal with former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, with the free agent set to move to Anfield imminently. (Daily Express)
But the Reds could have to wait until November to sign Valdes, 32, as he is recovering from a knee injury. (Daily Star)
Liverpool striker Fabio Borini's demands over wages and a get-out clause in his contract scuppered a move to QPR for the 23-year-old. (the Sun)
England international full-back Micah Richards, 26, rejected an improved contract at Manchester City in an effort to resurrect his career in Serie A at Fiorentina. (Talkshit)
French winger Hatem Ben Arfa, 27, is likely to have played his last game for Newcastle United after joining Hull City on loan. (Daily Telegraph)
Ben Arfa almost cried at the warm welcome he got when he arrived at Hull. (Daily Mirror)
Paris St-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi claims Argentina winger Angel Di Maria, 26, wanted to join the Ligue 1 club before his move from Real Madrid to Manchester United. (DSSC)
Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley had to call Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert personally to revive the deal to take him to the Midlands club, who had been angered by the 25-year-old's apparent change of heart when Everton showed an interest in signing him. (the Sun)
Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp could revive his interest in Jermain Defoe in January after failing to sign the 31-year-old Toronto FC striker on transfer deadline day. (Talkshit)
New England captain Wayne Rooney, 28, has been "awful" for Manchester United this season and should be dropped, says former Red Devils defender Paul Parker. (Eurosport)
Rooney has also been criticised by Norway captain Vegard Forren, who claimed the striker "looks a bit chubby". (Daily Star)
Meanwhile, Rooney says he has set his sights on winning over disaffected England fans as well as getting some silverware with the national team. (the Times )
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew's future at the club could depend on his side's results from the next two games, against Southampton and Hull. (Independent)
Swindon boss Mark Cooper, son of former Leeds player Terry, is "flattered" by interest from the Whites who are searching for a new manager. (Yorkshire Evening Post)
Liverpool striker Fabio Borini tweeted his delight at staying at Anfield after apparent interest from Sunderland and QPR. He said: "Finally the madness is finished! I protected the MAN and the player that I am today… taking all the responsibility of the situation and for people who didn't want it... and I'm VERY happy with myself to have taken such an important decision!"
Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 29, used his YouTube channel to show a day of spectacular driving with former Formula 1 champion Jenson Button.
A Monaco fan site is urging supporters of the club to demand a refund for their season tickets following the departures of strikers Radamel Falcao, 28, and James Rodriguez, 23. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs, 40, says former Old Trafford team-mate and Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer invited his grandparents into his office for a cup of tea. (Wales Online)
