Mes: enero 2022

Who Will Manchester City Purchase This January (12/3/08)

Manchester City clearly is going to show the financial strength of its owners, the Abu Dhabi Group, this January. In fact the owners even came out by saying that they want to acquire one world-class superstar during the next transfer period. However the question is who do they realistically have a chance getting? Clearly guys like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kaka are not going to be lured over no matter what price offered. Here I am going to analyze some of their rumored targets.

Many rumors have been coming linking Manchester City with forwards. Lukas Podolski seemed like he was on his way out from Bayern Munich and headed towards Manchester City until tonight when Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated that Podolski was staying at least until the end of the season. David Villa’s name has come up once again even though he has a contract at Valencia until 2014. The reason for these rumors is the serious financial situation taking place at Valencia which might end up forcing them to sell their prized forward if the price is high enough. Ricardo Oliveira of Real Zaragoza was linked with Manchester City last week but although he is a very talented forward, I just don’t see him as a big name forward that Mark Hughes would like to bring in. Luis Fabiano has been unhappy at Sevilla and even left practice due to a quarrel with the head coach. Manchester City seems interested in Fabiano and is supposedly planning to bid £20million for the forward who scored 24 goals last season in La Liga. The last forward being linked is in my opinion Mark Hughes’ favorite. This is Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz who stayed with Blackburn this summer despite great interest from other clubs. However the rumor is that he is unhappy at Blackburn and is going to request a transfer. Unless I see a statement saying that this rumor is false then I seriously think Roque Santa Cruz is the man for Manchester City. Chelsea this summer supposedly bid £40million for the Paraguay international but was turned down. However with Chelsea not interested in signing anyone, I see Manchester City being able to offer a lower price due to less competition.

Defenders and goalkeeper are also being linked with moves to Manchester City in January. City has been linked with only two goalkeepers but they are two of the best in the world. Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon was supposedly offered a large bid and contract that he turned down. The same goes for Iker Casillas whom Manchester City supposedly bid £129million for. Wayne Bridge has drawn interest from Mark Hughes but Chelsea doesn’t seem intent on selling him. The rumor is they were so angry that City stole Robinho from under their noses that they didn’t want to deal their defender to them. Michael Turner of Hull City was linked with Manchester City however I don’t see Hull making any major changes especially since they have performed above expectations this season after being promoted. Ivory Coast international Kolo Toure was linked with City but I don’t see Arsenal selling any of their defenders especially since at times, due to injuries and off-field incidents, they were forced to use Djourou and Silvestre at the center of the defense. Fabio Grosso is an interesting name being linked with Manchester City today as City are supposedly planning on bidding EUR7 million for the Olympique Lyonnais defender. Of all these names I see Grosso being the most realistic but even then I don’t think it will happen. As for midfielders the only name that was linked with Manchester City was Lassana Diarra but his sprained ankle has been a bump in the road. If he gets back from injury quickly and continues playing at a high quality, then I see Manchester City making a serious push for him.

After naming all these players that were linked with Manchester City, I see two realistic choices. I see Roque Santa Cruz finally moving towards Manchester City and I see Lassana Diarra joining if he can get healthy quickly. The main obstacles for these two players are whether their managers are willing to sell them. If they are willing, then these two are as good as signed.

It seems that no one wants the La Liga title as Real Madrid and Barcelona seem to be going out of their way not to win it judging by some of the performances and results lately.

Real Madrid have lost more games in the past 5 weeks or so than they have done throughout the season and Barcelona have had numerous chances to capitalise but for some reason they have not been able to.

The other contenders have been pretty patchy too as the likes of Villareal never seem to win games when they are close to the leaders, Atletico Madrid had lost 6 of their last 8 games, Espanyol went through a period after losing their influential captain, Raul Tamudo to injury, where they could not draw a game let alone win 1 as they kept losing game after game.

Sevilla had a very bad start to the season and are just starting to show signs of recovery whilst Real Zaragoza and Valencia are more mindful of relegation than a title challenge having had dreadful seasons thus far.

Back to Real Madrid though but it seems that manager Bernd Schuster is trying everything to jeopardise his side’s season because the team he brought out to play Deportivo la Coruna on Saturday could only be described as madness.

To play Wesley Sneilder, Diarra, Guti and Royston Drenthe in midfield; then Raul and Roberto Soldado that has only played 45 minutes in the league before Saturday was just mind-boggling.

To make matters worse he had Robinho and Julio Baptista on the bench and only brought them on when it was almost too late. It was almost as if he was trying to send a message to the board that has been complaining about his weird behaviour all season. Quite what the message he was trying to send is unclear at this point in time.

Not surprisingly they lost the game as they have not won their in 17 years and it was up to Barcelona to cut the point difference to 6 but they only managed to draw at Almeria 2-2 after having conceded identical goals from corner kicks.

It will be interesting to see if any team would take the league by the scruff of the neck and try to win it as it seems the most interesting thing about the league occurs behind the scenes in each club.

Almost every manager’s job is unsafe according to reports with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia, Real Zaragoza, Getafe, Atletico Madrid seemingly looking to change managers next season.

At the same time as a outcome of Jose Mourinho gossip that he would move to Real Madrid next season, so therefore one of his players, Diego Milito perhaps as well pointed out that he will leave the San Siro next season.

Milito is a third person as well as a following player who reveals with the intention of he perhaps leave Inter in the season ahead of time. Initially, just Jose Mourinho stating with the intention of he would move to Real Madrid next season. Not long before, spin to Douglas Maicon who as well declared that he might go along the coach’s company to El Real. Now, go the mainstay Inter striker, Diego Milito, who confirmed with the intention of he too would go along his coach to Los Blancos.

«In football, you in no way know what will take place in the upcoming. Now I get an offer which is very valuable and we’ll find out what will take place soon,» Milito said

Curiously, the striker who became important victory in the final of the Champions League Inter Milan versus Bayern Munenchen it suddenly turned 180 degrees as he publicly welcomed Inter Milan in Italy on Sunday (23 / 5) morning local time. Ex-Real Zaragoza striker revealed with the intention of he will complete his contract left behind in the first three years Nerazzuri.

«My contract still left behind three seasons and I will stay at Inter,» Milito supposed on Sky Sport 24.

Some Italian media alleged with the purpose of what was alleged on Sky Sport Milito is a tall tale. Because, Jose Mourinho was not in attendance by the celebration event held to salutation the arrival of Inter skuat I Nerazzuri in Italy and supposed of Mou is negotiating to bring his favorite player was to Madrid if «The Special One» really encouraged.

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