Re: NO ODDS ON SKYBEY ANYMORE
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ABU DHABI — The richest football club in the world is getting ready to splash the dough. Manchester City FC is again on the chase to sign up top stars to beef up their team for next season. And the list makes quite impressive reading...Barcelona ace Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry, Manchester United Carlos Tevez, AC Milan’s Kaka and Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry.
The Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ADUG), the owners of the Eastlands club, have reportedly handed manager Mark Hughes £250 million to shop and it seems the Welshman, nicknamed ‘Sparky,’ may live up to that name.
City are keen to see Argentine Carlos Tevez cross over from the red of Manchester United and don their blue colours.
Tevez has made his displeasure known about the lack of first-team opportunities with Man U. He watched from the sidelines as Barcelona went a goal up in the UEFA Champions League final in Rome last Wednesday. Man U couldn’t get back into the game and Barcelona won the biggest prize in European football with a 2-0 margin.
“I wanted to play in the starting line-up in Rome but that decision was down to the coach. But with a strategy more attacking in the first minute then perhaps the result would have been different. It has not been a good time for me because I believe that I should have played more minutes.
My future will now be decided. My agents are negotiating and I am waiting to hear some news,†Tevez was quoted as saying.
Media Sports Investment president Kia Joorabchian, Tevez’s agent, has set a price of £32 million and Liverpool, Chelsea, and Real Madrid were thought to be prospective suitors but City are reported to be willing to fork out £42 million for the 25-year-old striker.
Manchester City are reportedly lining up a cool £30 million for Eto’o, despite the Cameroonian saying this week that he would like to continue scoring goals for Barcelona.
It was also reported that Eto’o’s agent Jose Maria Mesalles held talks with Manchester City last week.
The 28-year-old’s contract with the Catalan giants runs out next year and it has been reported that Manchester City are offering a four-year contract which will see Eto’o earn £160,000 a week.
Manchester City have also reportedly shown interest in Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry.
It is being said that they are offering £10 million which will see the 28-year-old midfielder earning £90,000 a week. Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs are also interested.
It is also being reported that City have renewed their interest in AC Milan’s Kaka. The clubs had come close to inking a £107 million deal in January but Kaka opted to stay back.
City are targeting the Premier League in a bid to make it to the biggest stage of European football—the UEFA Champions League.
james@khaleejtimes.com
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