Daz_Blue said:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-city-transfers-diego-novaretti-1860797
Mirror has the story now
Manchester City are close to signing Argentine defender Diego Novaretti, according to reports in Italy.
Sky Italia have reported that Novaretti, who plays for Toluca in Mexico, will move to the Etihad on a free transfer with his current contract expiring next month.
The tall centre back, 27, is nicknamed 'skinny' in Latin America due to his frame, and as well as being comfortable on the ball, Novaretti is at home in a back three or four - fitting in with Roberto Mancini's plans for greater tactical flexibility in the upcoming campaign.
Having begun his career at Belgrano in Argentina, Novaretti excelled in the second tier of Argentine football, attracting interest from clubs in Mexico and Brazil as well as the traditional Argentine grandes, Boca Juniors and River Plate.
However, with the club qualifying for the playoffs and dreaming of the top flight, Novaretti walked out of the club.
They lost their decisive tie with Rosario Central and the defender used a highly controversial 'triangulation' technique - denounced by Argentine authorities for avoiding taxes - to get his registration out the country and to sign for Toluca.
The acrimonious departure was further worsened in 2012, when Belgrano's general assembly and a members vote declared Novaretti a 'persona non grata' at the club, banning him permanently from returning to the club in any capacity.
The Mexicans paid US$2million to a third party and the player to secure his signature in the summer of 2009 and since donning the red shirt he has become a regular in a successful three-and-a-half-years at the club.
Having appeared regularly in the Copa LIibertadores - South America's highest level of club competition - Europe was the next obvious step, but a move to Manchester City has taken back even his biggest fans in Mexico.