Balotelli close to City move
Source: Agencies |
August 14, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MANCHESTER City has grabbed the spotlight on the eve of the Premier League season, with Robinho named in its 25-man squad and Mario Balotelli flying in for a medical.
Coach Roberto Mancini, who also looks like selling striker Craig Bellamy and midfielder Stephen Ireland in the next few days and buying James Milner from Aston Villa, was his usual calm self at a news conference despite all the comings and goings.
He said he would sit down with the unsettled Brazil striker next week to thrash out his future. Robinho has made no secret of the fact he wants to stay with Brazilian club Santos, where he has been on loan since January.
This season the Premier League has imposed a 25-man limit on squads, with eight "home-grown" players included in that number. That is putting extra pressure on coaches who are being forced to let some players leave.
Robinho, the most expensive signing in British soccer after joining for 32.5 million pounds (US$50.91 million) from Real Madrid almost two years ago, reluctantly returned to Manchester on Thursday to begin training but will not feature for City's difficult trip to Tottenham Hotspur today. "He only arrived back yesterday and is tired from the World Cup and other games he's been playing," said Mancini. "But he's on my list and I will talk to him next week about the situation."
Even though Robinho favors a return to Santos, the Brazilians do not have the money for a permanent transfer and he could be used as a bargaining tool in the deal to bring Balotelli from Inter Milan. Mancini said the Italian striker, who was 20 on Thursday, was heading to Manchester to undergo a medical while England midfielder Milner could also follow over the weekend.
Balotelli, who made his international debut against Ivory Coast in London on Tuesday, will cost City around 24 million pounds and Mancini said he expected the deal to be concluded within 24 hours. "We are close," said the coach. "I think he could be a big success at this club."
One player heading out is Bellamy who said last week he had not spoken to Mancini for six months and knew he was not part of the Italian's plans.
The Wales striker will not play for City again, according to Mancini, and is free to find a new club with Celtic, Sunderland and Fulham heading the queue to sign him.
"This is the problem of the list," said City's manager. "There are players on there and those who aren't are out. Craig is not on the list. What he said isn't important, it's false. I work with the players every day and speak with them.
"I don't want to talk about it, it's not important. What is important is the players here play well and work with a good attitude," added Mancini.
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