Bruno Zuculini - Now officially a blue

[Rocket-footed kolarov]

Re: Bruno Zuculini

I think it is quite clear, the transfer agreement is that Zuculini is contracted to join up with City until the summer. However, Racing are trying to persuade the player and City to extend that period until the end of the year. However until there is an agreement with City that that will happen, he is obliged to join up with City or he is in breach of contract. I don't see how it would be in the players best interests anyway, the impact upon a call up (to the Copa America) is no more than swings and roundabouts and I can't see City being happy to pay somebody first team wages when they are playing on loan for somebody else, and obviously racing won't be able to afford to neither. It is just a case of Racing chancing their luck because they haven't sold him for top dollar and can't afford a decent replacement, hopefully City will tell them to get lost.

 

[BlueMoonz1977]

Re: Bruno Zuculini

Not sure if already posted -


Manchester City have beaten Barcelona and Manchester United to the signing of Racing Club defensive midfield starlet Bruno Zuculini, Goal understands.

The 20-year-old Argentine, tipped by many to break into Alejandro Sabella's squad ahead of next summer's World Cup in Brazil, will join for a fee of £1.5 million at the end of the season.

It is understood that Barcelona and United also made approaches for Zuculini but City's director of football Txiki Begiristain had already moved quickly to complete the deal last summer.


But the youngster, whose older brother Franco is also a defensive midfielder for Spanish side Zaragoza, will complete his move to the Etihad Stadium next summer.

A work permit will not be a stumbling block due to the fact that Zuculini already holds an Italian passport.

The capture of Zuculini is yet another sign of the shift in City's transfer strategy towards securing the world's best developing talent, as highlighted by Goal last week.

Zacharias Faour, a 15-year-old Swedish striker dubbed the next Zlatan Ibrahimovic, will join City's elite development squad when the transfer window opens in January in a £1m deal.

City have also won the race for Nigerian wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho, star of last summer's Under-17 World Cup, and Malaga sensation Brahim Abdelkader, dubbed 'the new Messi'.

Zuculini, however, will go straight into City's first-team squad where he will compete with the likes of Fernandinho, Javi Garcia and Jack Rodwell to claim the holding midfield role alongside Yaya Toure.

The midfielder has made over 70 appearances in three years for Racing and was included in the Argentina squad for the 2011 South American Under-20 Championship as a 17-year-old.

Begiristain's success in acquiring Zuculini may well further heighten tensions with his former club Barcelona, who were also very confident of landing Brahim before City hijacked the deal.

For Manchester United, meanwhile, Zuculini must be added to the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Cesc Fabregas and Ander Herrera on the increasingly embarrassing list of midfield targets who got away.



THE VIEW FROM ARGENTINA
Martin Seldes | Chief Editor, Goal Argentina

Bruno Zuculini played his first game in Argentina's First Division at only 16 in 2010. Following in the footsteps of his brother Franco, Zuculini demonstrated in just a few games his ability to move around the pitch, as well as his dynamism.

Even though his natural position is central midfield, he has also played on the flanks and even in defence on occasions. Once he had claimed his place in the starting XI, Bruno also started showing his offensive ability, and scored plenty of goals.

Besides his abilities as a player, Zuculini is also recognised as being a responsible professional. In a team full of young players well known for their frequent visits to different night clubs, Zuculini stayed clear from that group and became the link between the experienced players, the coach and the youngsters.

In other words, if Manchester City splash out just £1.5 million for Zuculini, it will be one of the best bargains of recent years.Zuculini was then allowed to spend this season with Racing, whose ongoing financial problems prevented them from holding out for a higher transfer fee.


In Txiki we trust

 

[Plain Speaking]

Re: Bruno Zuculini

Caught Offside article just in:
"Manchester City’s move for young Racing Club midfielder Bruno Zuculini has hit a bump in the road after the two sides cannot agree on when the player will be joining the Premier League side, according to Sports Direct News.

In the weeks leading up to the opening of the January transfer window City boss Manuel Pellegrini believed that he had struck a deal to bring the young Argentine to the Etihad Stadium in time for the new year, but his current side were hoping to keep hold of him until the summer.

Personal terms between the player and the Premier League side are said to have already been agreed, but a fee is still to be agreed though it could possibly rise to £3m now.

However, reports in the player’s native Argentina have suggested that Racing Club are hoping to keep a hold of the player with some sources saying that negotiations between the two are still a long way from being complete.

A move to Manchester will not depend on the availability of a work permit for the player as he holds an Italian passport, but the move could be scuppered by Racing’s desire to keep hold of the player."

 

[Blue Haze]

Re: Bruno Zuculini

If he's ready for this level, he'd get plenty of playing time right now.

I wondered if we'd try to move things ahead by six months seeing as how we need depth in this area now.

 

[SrilankanBlue]

Re: Bruno Zuculini

Caught Offside article just in:
"Manchester City’s move for young Racing Club midfielder Bruno Zuculini has hit a bump in the road after the two sides cannot agree on when the player will be joining the Premier League side, according to Sports Direct News.

In the weeks leading up to the opening of the January transfer window City boss Manuel Pellegrini believed that he had struck a deal to bring the young Argentine to the Etihad Stadium in time for the new year, but his current side were hoping to keep hold of him until the summer.

Personal terms between the player and the Premier League side are said to have already been agreed, but a fee is still to be agreed though it could possibly rise to £3m now.

However, reports in the player’s native Argentina have suggested that Racing Club are hoping to keep a hold of the player with some sources saying that negotiations between the two are still a long way from being complete.

A move to Manchester will not depend on the availability of a work permit for the player as he holds an Italian passport, but the move could be scuppered by Racing’s desire to keep hold of the player."

Literally the worst news source in the world atm

 

[LoveCity]

Re: Bruno Zuculini

His contract is up next summer too, unless he's stealthily renewed, and the fee was reported to be a goodwill gesture from City...

 

[FantasyIreland]

Re: Bruno Zuculini

Other than a gut feeling,i have zero evidence to suggest otherwise,however......i'm just not confident this deal will happen.

 

[andyhinch]

Re: Bruno Zuculini

I'm in a seriously pissed of mood at the minute, have fun.

 

[MihaiCity]

Re: Bruno Zuculini

the Racing president already said it's City decision when they want Zuculini to join us in the summer or next january so most likely this is BS

 

[Plain Speaking]

Re: Bruno Zuculini

the Racing president already said it's City decision when they want Zuculini to join us in the summer or next january so most likely this is BS

The implication from the latest report is that Racing would ideally like him to stay until next January but with Nasri out we were asking if he could be released this January? Don't know if this may scupper the deal? I hope not.