Kia Joorabchian: Carlos Tevez close to Manchester City exit

 
ADIOS? Carlos Tevez could finally be off
 

Carlos Tevez's advisor Kia Joorabchian claims a deal to take the Manchester City captain back to Corinthians is "close" and that the player is helping drive the deal.

The Brazilian club have tabled a £40 million offer after being alerted by Tevez's admission earlier this month that he wished to leave City for the sake of his family.

A move to a club in Europe had appeared the Argentina international's most likely route out of Manchester until it was confirmed last night that Corinthians were attempting to resign a player who played for them between January 2005 and August 2006.

"Corinthians made the offer, now it depends only on Manchester City. City have to make a decision," Joorabchian told www.espn.com.br.

"Everybody is working to make this happen, me, Corinthians, Tevez and Adrian Ruocco (another of Tevez's representatives).

"It is impossible to determine the situation, but I think it's close."

According to Joorabchian, Tevez has set his heart on a return to the club he left to join West Ham five years ago - the start of a turbulent spell in England which has also involved two seasons at both Manchester United and City.

"His dream and mine is to see him back with Corinthians," Joorabchian said.

"He said he has a job that does not end there. He wants to return because he has the dream of winning the Copa Libertadores."

It is thought the massive transfer fee would be funded through sponsorship and money from TV rights.

City are believed to value Tevez at around £50million, and with potential suitors in Spain and Italy apparently showing little sign they are willing to spend that much, it was starting to look like the forward might be at the renamed Etihad Stadium next season after all.

But Joorabchian insists European sides are also interested in the 27-year-old, who has scored 53 goals in 86 appearances for City since joining them in 2009 and skippered the Blues to FA Cup glory and Champions League qualification last season.

"The priority is Corinthians, but we have other options," Joorabchian said.

"Carlos was the best player in the Premier League (last season), he was the scorer of the team for two consecutive years, he won the FA Cup.

"He has much appeal in the European market. He is no longer a boy, today he is a great player."

A deal with Corinthians would seem an attractive prospect for City given it would mean Tevez signing for a team who are not their rivals in any competition.

The same would apply to Argentine outfit Boca Juniors - Tevez's first club - who Joorabchian says the player would also be open to rejoining.

"Carlos will not play for any other Brazilian club than Corinthians, that is an absolute certainty," Joorabchian said.

"Boca Juniors and Corinthians are in his heart. He would only play for these two clubs if he went back to Brazil and Argentina."

Manchester City: Televised fixtures released

The first set of Sky's televised Premier League matches has been released and Manchester City's opening clash against Swansea will now take place on Monday August 15 (kick-off 8pm).

The Blues are on the box against Bolton the following Sunday when they travel to Bolton, and then on Saturday September 24 at home to Everton.

The home game against Aston Villa on Sunday October 16 will be shown, as will the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, which will kick-off at 1.30pm on Sunday October 23.

The final televised game of Sky's first set will be the Liverpool vs City game on Sunday November 27 (kick-off 4pm).

City will also feature on ESPN when they take on Tottenham on Sunday August 28.

Manchester City's Sky televised fixtures:
Monday 15 August Manchester City vs Swansea City (8pm)
Sunday 21 August Bolton Wanderers vs Manchester City (4pm)
Saturday 24 September Manchester City vs Everton (12.45pm)
Sunday 16 October Manchester City vs Aston Villa (1.30pm)
Sunday 23 October Manchester United vs Manchester City (1.30pm)
Sunday 27 November Liverpool vs Manchester City (4pm)

Manchester City's ESPN televised fixture:

Sunday August 28 Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City (1:30pm)

Garry Cook reveals plans for Manchester City success on and off the pitch

 

Garry Cook on Friday

 

Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook has revealed there have been conversations between the club and UEFA over how they intend to meet new Financial Fair Play regulations.

Given the grandiose plans for land around the stadium, it is estimated Etihad Airways have pledged £300million over the next 10 years for a range of projects that include renaming City's home the Etihad Stadium.

Even so, it will not come close to wiping out losses in excess of £120million posted in City's last accounts, to May 2010, which leave them in jeopardy of failing to meet FFP.

However, Cook has confirmed an open dialogue with European football's power brokers and given the Blues' "aggressive" commercial plans, the gap is closing quickly.

"We have a very open dialogue with UEFA," said Cook.

"We have had several meetings with UEFA about our plans and they are very supportive of Manchester City's ambition.

"There are many football clubs who have the backdrop of regulation that is being placed into the world of football.

"We are no different to any other football club."

A special Airbus-330, with a City livery, will fly between Manchester and Abu Dhabi as part of the deal, which also includes an extension to Etihad's present shirt sponsorship and the renaming of an area around City's stadium, now known as the 'Etihad Campus'.

It all forms part of an ultra-ambitious plan to gatecrash Europe's elite clubs.

Owner Sheikh Mansour has invested in excess of £1billion so far, including the acquisition of the club three years ago, and has been rewarded with a place in next season's Champions League plus the FA Cup, City's first trophy in 35 years.

He has already shelled out on two signings this week in Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic, although that duo would be eclipsed by the arrival of Samir Nasri, with fresh reports surfacing in Italy that a fee has been agreed with Arsenal, which City are yet to respond to.

Having made the mistake of trumpeting rather too loudly his view of City's future direction, and been left with egg on his face when Manchester United beat the Blues in a 2010 Carling Cup semi-final, Cook is wary of saying too much at such an early stage of the summer.

"I have got into trouble with this one before," he laughed.

"We will look to continue our growth, on and off the pitch.

"Our ambition for next year means we are competing in a new competition - the Champions League - plus the three others.

"We will endeavour to be successful in all four."

Manchester City announce deal to rename Eastlands as the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City will rename Eastlands as the Etihad Stadium after signing a deal worth 'several hundred million pounds' with the club's sponsors.
The City of Manchester Stadium – the Blues' ground since 2003 – will be renamed with immediate effect.
The 10-year agreement, with Etihad Airways, is the most expensive football sponsorship deal ever and includes naming rights to the stadium and surrounding redevelopment campus which is set to include a new training ground for the Blues.
The deal was signed today by Manchester City CEO, Garry Cook, and James Hogan, CEO of Etihad Airways, before the the Blues' first team squad departed on a pre-season tour of the United States.
The club said the newly-named Etihad Stadium would form the 'centrepiece' of an Etihad Campus including City Square and a large part of the adjacent Sportcity site.
Up to two million visitors are expected a year following City's qualification for the Champions League.
The club and their sponsors will also expand co-operation on business, hospitality and media projects, including increased MCFC content and match coverage included in Etihad's in-flight entertainment.
They will also partner on youth and community projects both locally, throughout Britain and internationally.
The club will shortly launch a public consultation on a new youth training and football development complex at Eastlands, they said today.
City's CEO, Garry Cook, said: "We are delighted to be expanding our relationship with Etihad Airways through this comprehensive partnership agreement. Most importantly, in addition to delivering significant revenue at a key stage in the Club's evolution, the agreement creates exciting opportunities for our two organisations to cooperate more deeply commercially and on media and community initiatives in the future."
James Hogan, CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “This is a game-changing partnership agreement that redefines the traditional sports sponsorship paradigm. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for two iconic brands that share the same vision to promote far-reaching global awareness and business growth.
“Etihad's work with MCFC has already yielded a significant return on our investment and we are thrilled to build on our relationship. Their well-established name and loyal fan base have allowed us to tap into a new and increasing global audience. In addition to being a sensible alignment for our brand from a business perspective, it is also one that we can get very excited about, especially at a time when MCFC's winning attitude is bringing increased success for the team on the national and international stage."
The M.E.N. revealed in March that Blues officials had struck a deal with town hall bosses to sell the rights to the council-owned stadium, built for the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and nicknamed Eastlands by fans.
The club moved there from Maine Road in 2003, signing a 250-year agreement which saw a percentage of match-day income paid into the town hall coffers.
City and the council reached a new agreement last year which sees the town hall receive a set amount, regardless of attendances at the 47,500 capacity stadium. It is understood the council will also benefit from the naming rights deal.
Council leader, Sir Richard Leese, said: "The relationship between Etihad Airways and Manchester City Football Club further supports Manchester’s international profile and global connectivity and the city’s ability to attract leading brands to invest and create job opportunities. It is great news for Manchester, reinforcing our sporting, transport and economic growth priorities and is particularly welcome news for east Manchester.”
Charles Johnston, Property Director at Sport England, added: "This announcement is positive for grassroots sport and people in Manchester. The re-negotiated stadium agreement will generate further investment in community sport and sports facilities in the local area.”
City are not the first Premier League club to sell naming rights to their stadium.
Arsenal sold the rights to their ground to the Emirates airline, Etihad’s main rival, in 2006. The Gunners netted £100m in a 15-year deal which also included shirt sponsorship.
But the Blues' Etihad deal is understood to dwarf that, standing at 'several hundred million pounds' over the ten years, officials said.
The cash injection will provide a major boost for the Blues, as they look to comply with Uefa’s Financial Fair Play rules. They stipulate clubs must not post aggregate losses of more than £40.5m over the following three-year period.
City are at the heart of plans to transform land around the east Manchester stadium into a global sporting capital.
It could see world-class facilities change the lives of people in one of Britain’s most deprived neighbourhoods, in the shadow of the ground.
Community football pitches will be built on the 80 acres in Openshaw West bought by City’s Abu Dhabi owners last year – alongside a training complex for the club’s professional players. A bridge is expected to connect the site to the stadium.
National teams for sports including basketball and taekwondo could join the all-conquering cycling squad under plans to turn Alan Turing Way into a ‘corridor of Olympians’.
There are also plans for a cluster of new sporting facilities at Grey Mare Lane, including a new swimming pool.

Manchester City plane 'Blue Moon Rising' jets into Manchester airport for first time

Manchester City players on the steps of the aircraft

Manchester City have joined football's jet set – with their own plane kitted out in club colours.

The plane – emblazoned with the club's name and crest – graced the region's skies for the first time yesterday as it flew into Manchester Airport from Abu Dhabi.

The Blue Moon Rising jet, owned by sponsors Etihad Airways, touched down just after 3pm – and it was greeted by some of City's star players who were given a quick tour.



A team of 40 painters worked around the clock for EIGHTEEN days in Abu Dhabi to paint the A330-200 in City colours.

A staggering 450 litres of paint were required to complete the job.

Airline chiefs said the plane would take their sponsorship with City to new heights and it would also mark the commencement of double daily flights between Manchester and Abu Dhabi next month.

James  Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive officer, said: “We  are  very  proud  of  our  sponsorship  of Manchester City Football Club, and of our commitment to the wider community.

“Manchester has been a key destination for Etihad for five years, and the increase in frequency to double daily indicates our dedication to the region.

“Business and leisure travellers from all over the north west of England can now easily take advantage of the services, whether flying to Abu Dhabi, or further afield to destinations such as Thailand, Singapore or Australia.”

It is the latest step in the link-up between the club and the Middle East airline.

The carrier has been City's main sponsor since May 2009 and boss Roberto Mancini opened the airline's executive lounge at the airport last December.

City fans will get to follow in the footsteps of their heroes because when the plane is not transporting the players, it will be in normal service – meaning United fans flying out of Manchester may have to make the journey on the Blue jet.

It will operate on the Manchester-Abu Dhabi route – which goes to a double daily service from August 1 - but will also serve Milan, Frankfurt, Brussels,

Johannesburg, Cape  Town, Kuala  Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Istanbul and destinations throughout the Middle East and India.

The US tour starts on Saturday, July 16, with a match against Club America in San Francisco, followed by games against the Vancouver Whitecaps and LA Galaxy.

The arrival of the aircraft comes as the MEN understands a deal for the naming rights to the City of Manchester stadium is poised to be finalised.

The US tour starts on Saturday 16 July with a match against Club America in San Francisco followed by matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps and LA Galaxy.

Manchester City get the better of Arsenal again by landing Stefan Savic

 

NEW BLUE: Stefan Savic

 

New Manchester City starlet Stefan Savic doesn’t have to look too far to see his inspiration – he cites United skipper Nemanja Vidic as one of his idols!

Of course, that will all change now the 20-year-old Montenegrin defender has joined City on a four-year deal, for a fee which could eventually be worth £9m.

But 6ft 1ins Savic, who has been described as the new Alessandro Nesta, has also been likened to the Reds’ no-nonsense skipper.

City tied up the deal for Savic after ironing out a possible problem with his work permit – he did not meet the stipulation of playing in 75 per cent of Montenegro’s competitive internationals in the last two years.

But the Blues have pointed out that since his first cap, in a friendly against Northern Ireland in August 2010, he has become a regular for his country.

He was one of the stars of the Montenegro defence which held England to a goalless draw at Wembley in the Euro 2012 qualifier, even though he was playing out of position at right back.

News that Savic has signed for City may be yet another blow for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger who was still toying with the idea of making a move for the player, who has
Champions League experience with his former club Partizan Belgrade.

Wenger took Savic on a 10-day trial in January 2010 and had said the youngster should sign a pre-contract agreement before heading back to Belgrade.

But Savic was not a full international at that point and the unlikelihood of getting a work permit, plus some doubts among Arsenal’s coaching staff and the £2.2m asking price, meant it did not happen.

Wenger is understood to have lined up Savic as a possible if his moves for Bolton stopper Gary Cahill fall through – but City stepped in with a £6m deal which could become £9m with increments.

Savic says he has played football as long as he can remember, although he was only picked up by a professional club – Borca – as a 16-year-old, after impressing for his home-town team Mojkovac.

“I began to play football when I was six, and a football was a toy from which I was never apart,” said Savic. “The football pitch was next door to my house so I used to spend a few hours every day on it.”

Growing up, he supported Inter Milan, but it was rivals AC Milan’s Nesta, and Vidic, on whom he tried to style his game.

“Nesta was a master, but Vidic is a pleasure to watch, the fearless heart of Manchester United,” he said.

Savic soon made inroads at Borca, being picked for Montenegro at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels while helping his new club reach the top division in Serbia for the first time in their history. He was then instrumental in keeping them there.

Prowess

Wenger heard of his prowess and went to watch him play while on a trip to see Serbia play France, leading to his trial in London.

But by then his name was becoming well-known and Chelsea, Birmingham and Spurs were also sniffing – along with Ajax, Inter, AC Milan, Roma, Bayern Munich and Sporting Lisbon.

After his Arsenal disappointment, Savic decided he would improve his game by joining top Serbian outfit Partizan, which he did in August 2010.

He helped them to a fourth consecutive Serbian title last season, after which City began tracking him.

Savic suffered a terrible tragedy in April when his father Dragan, who was Mayor of his home-town of Mojkovac, was found shot dead in his apartment in the town, in an apparent suicide.

The young player dedicated his medals from Partizan’s league and cup double to his father’s memory.

And he leaves Partizan with best wishes of head coach Aleksandar Stanojevic.

“He has the character of a winner, is a great athlete and has all the elements a defender needs, in abundance,” said Stanojevic, the first coach to take a Serbian team into the Champions League group stages last season.

“He has great timing, a great leap, his positioning is excellent, he understands the game and is quick – far above the average European player. He also works hard, is persistent, and listens to advice. And you know that he will never repeat the same mistake again. He is a gem.”

Stanojevic also believes he will take the step up to the Premier League in his stride, saying: “He was well-trained when he came to Partizan from Borca, but our club has special requirements.

“One of our coaches made a video of his performances for Borca and we told him what he needed to work on before he made his debut. He did it all and then went on to make his debut in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk, when he played flawlessly.”

Savic has played at right back for both club and country, but Stanojevic says his best position is not in doubt.

“He is a central defensive player, and that is inviolable,” he said.

Manchester City in talks with Napoli over Ezequiel Lavezzi

ONE IN ONE OUT? Carlos Tevez and Ezequiel Lavezzi

 

Manchester City have been in talks with Napoli for the past few months with a view to signing Ezequiel Lavezzi, according to Blues manager Roberto Mancini's agent.

The Argentina international has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League this summer, with City and Liverpool among the clubs keen to acquire Lavezzi's services.

With City captain Carlos Tevez set to leave the Eastlands club this summer, the 26-year-old Lavezzi is considered by Mancini to be an ideal replacement.

Mancini's agent, Giorgio De Giorgis, spoke about City's pursuit of Lavezzi and even claimed England midfielder Gareth Barry could be a makeweight in the transfer.

He told Radio CRC: "Manchester City's interest in Lavezzi could be a reality.

"(City) has been negotiating for the past few months with Napoli, regardless of Tevez's situation. City has spoken to Napoli about Pocho (Lavezzi).

"But 31million euros for Lavezzi, I think it's excessive.

"However, to find a player who is ready like Pocho is, it's not easy.

"Manchester City could include a player in the deal, but I don't know what player could interest Napoli.

"The only one could be (Gareth) Barry, who is an England international and does not have a high salary."

Lavezzi is under contract with Napoli until June 2015 and has a release clause of 30million euros (£26.8million).

Napoli, like City, will play in next season's Champions League.

On Tuesday Lavezzi's agent Alejandro Mazzoni said: "Lavezzi will not move unless an important offer arrives.

"At this time, there are none."