NOLITO SIGNS WITH MANCHESTER CITY

Spanish International forward & now ex-Celta de Vigo player Nolito has been officially presented as a new signing by English Premier League Club Manchester City. The English Club now being Coached by Pep Guardiola has paid the 18M€ contract release clause. A bargain price.

Nolito signs a 4 year contract & will wear the number 9 on his Manchester City shirt. We congratulate Nolito from here & wish him all the luck. 

The player may have some initial difficulties adapting but I believe that the player has abilities more suited to the English style of Football. Sure Nolito will learn & mature as a player.  

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REAL MADRID INTO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

Spanish Football Club Real Madrid defeated 1 - 0 Manchester City in the return 2º leg semi-final match of Champions League. Real Madrid goes into its 14th European Cup Final after taking the semi-final tie 1 - 0 on aggregate.

Real Madrid will now meet fellow city & country rival Atletico de Madrid in the Milan Final of the Champions League at the end of this month.

The winning goal came in the 20th min from Bale although the referee marked it as an own goal from Fernando. Deserved victory by the Spaniards which dominated most of the match, but had serious scares on a couple of occasions when Manchester City came close to scoring an away goal. One occasion was at the end of the match when Sergio Aguero nearly changed the course of the game.

Real Madrid started with Cristiano Ronaldo who risked with injury, & was without Benzema & Casemiro. Isco started with Jese & the team looked well from the kick-off. Manchester City lost early Kompany to injury, & apart from this was very slow in all their moves through the encounter. The determining factor was the superior quality of the Real Madrid players, although as mentioned,  Manchester City gave two clear frights, they came really close tonight. 

All Spanish Final & a repeat of two years ago when Real Madrid saves in the last seconds a Final in the hands of Atletico Madrid through a Sergio Ramos goal that gave extra time a the victory. Spanish Football remains the reference for European & World Soccer.

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MAN. CITY 0 REAL MADRID 0 | CHAMPIONS SEMI-FINAL 1º LEG RESULT

Champions League 1º leg semi-final with Manchester City drawing 0 - 0 with Spanish Football Club Real Madrid. A relative small victory for Real Madrid as they did not allow Man. City to score while keeping options open for the return leg at home at the "Santiago Bernabeu Stadium".

The result for the Spaniards was even better because they managed it without Cristiano Ronaldo who could not recover in time over his thigh injury & without Benzema all the 2º half who went off injured.

Manchester City was very dangerous the first half gaining a higher percentage of ball possession & managing to get into the goal zone more often. Real Madrid was sloppy, inaccurate in their passing & giving away the ball too often. The turning point for worst for Man.City was the injury to David Silva which took the "magic" out of the team. The English squad then took on a more "orthodox" approach of defending & looking for the counter-attack.

The second half went to Real Madrid which bettered as time went hitting the bar through Jese & forcing English goalkeeper Hart to make two match savers, one from a Casemiro corner header & another a point blank Pepe shot.

In the end both teams played out to fight another day. But watching this game although both teams have very good options still available to pass onto the final, Real Madrid looks more superior.

Outstanding performance from Real Madrid defenders Pepe, Marcelo  & Carvajal, Casemiro was solid, Modric was the play maker & always dangerous, while Bale got better towards the end. 

Tomorrow the other Spanish Football representative plays German giants Bayern Munich at home in their 1ºst leg Champions League semi-final match. 

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MANCHESTER CITY TIES DEFENDER LAPORTE

Spanish Coach Pep Guardiola, currently in his last months at Bayern Munich is making his future moves. Thinking ahead before he takes over the Coaching position at Manchester City the news is that he has tied up Athletic Club Bilbao defender Laporte.

The 21 year old Central Defender has a 50 M€ contract release clause & apparently Manchester City has announced they will pay it to get the player over for next season. Laporte will thus signs a contract for the next 5 seasons.

Excellent signing if correct, as Laporte is considered one of the brightest talents in European Football. Guardiola certainly thinks so & has assured no other competitor has the defender except Manchester City.

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SERGI BUSQUETS | RENEWAL OR NOT

Sergi Busquets escapes the limelight, plays his Football almost unnoticed to the average spectator, but is currently the "Best Nº5 in World Football. Football observers agree, without Messi Spanish Football Club FC Barcelona can continuing winning matches as proven during the Argentine´s last prolonged injury period, while without Busquets the team suffers & loses. 

Sergi Busquets is the bridge between the defence & the forward line & the first to defend & the first to initiate the attacks. He is simply the equilibrium point, the balance & the bidding force of all the parts. So much for a player who withdraws into a second plane when it comes to flash-lights, TV cameras & signature obsessed fans. The players is basically essential.

News is that "Camp Barça" is nervous, while Europe´s elite Clubs are hoovering over Busquets in an attempt to lure the midfielder away & into their squads. Ex- Barça Coach Pep Guardiola who will leave Bayern Munich next season for Manchester City is already making moves on the player. So is Manchester United & Paris St Germain which are opening up their cheque books. 

To animate the situation it is written that Busquets is upset & not happy with FC Barcelona & their handling of the ongoing contract renewal negotiations. This situation gives hopes to pretenders & makes many at FC Barcelona nervous. 

My opinion is that it will be extremely difficult to convince Sergi Busquets to move away from Barcelona. In the end both parties will find a way towards an agreement. However, Football is unpredictable & stranger things have happen in the past.

Stay tuned!

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FC BARCELONA 1 MANCHESTER CITY 0 | BARÇA ELIMINATES CITY

FC Barcelona defeated 1 - 0 Manchester City in tonights 2º leg return encounter winning the tie 3 - 1 on aggregate & eliminating the English club from the UEFA Champions League tournament. Once again Manchester City falls way short of expectations in European Football, while FC Barcelona again goes into the Quarter-final stage. 

Barça was relatively comfortable most of the game except for the missed penalty by Aguero in the 78th min, even here the English team could not finish off an opportunity. FC Barcelona could have scored many more goals but the posts, goalie Hart & the numerous close calls kept the scoreline to a minimum. Plus, Barça may have lifted the foot off the accelerator in the 2º half thinking ahead to next Sundays huge Liga match against Real Madrid.  

The match was basically "sealed" in the 1º st half with an exceptional performance by the home team, with Lionel Messi at a maximum level that drove the City defenders crazy. It was the Argentine that gave the pass to find Ratikic who sweetly chipped over the goalie to score in the 31st min. 

Manchester City bettered somewhat in the 2º half but was not effective enough to turn the match around, they were neutralized by Barça. The special mention goes out for Manchester City goalkeeper Hart who was exceptional, & this basically tells you a lot about this match.

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MANCHESTER CITY 1 FC BARCELONA 2 | CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULT

UEFA Champions League Football was back with Spanish Soccer Club FC Barcelona in action tonight away from home to Manchester City for their 1º leg game. The final result ended favourably for Barça winning 1 - 2. 

Disappointing performance from the English Club, in my opinion, which managed to "fix things" somewhat in the second half pulling back a goal after being totally overrun by FC Barcelona in the 1º st half. Manchester City missed Yaya Toure - suspended for this game - as they failed to halt the Barça attacks, was slow, lacked creativity & play-markers plus committed defensive errors.

FC Barcelona are not free of some criticism as they did suffer a "drop" in play during the second half, something to be weary off, as they failed to "kill off" Manchester City & allowed them to score, which leaves open the door for the return 2º leg match. Barça even failed a penalty in the 90th min when Messi had his shot stopped by Hart. 

Thankfully Barça managed to do the work during their tremendous first 45 min with Luis Suarez on target twice.

Goals in the following order:

• Luis Suarez 16th min, 0 - 1
• Luis Suarez 30th min, 0 - 2
• Sergio Aguero 69th min, 1 - 2

FC Barcelona take to "Camp Nou" two valuable away goals & has advantage to take the tie. However, they also allowed Manchester City to finish alive tonight & this is a risk to keep in mind.

Tomorrow the other Spanish Football representative, Atletico de Madrid has their Champions League match.

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THE MANCHESTER CITY-MONACO-REAL MADRID-FALCAO-MENDES MADRID DINNER

Curious & attention grabbing event last night in Madrid. The background is the following, a dinner in one of Madrid´s famous restaurants with the following guests all around the same table:

• Falcao ( Player of Monaco )
• Jorge Mendes ( representative of Falcao - & Di Maria )
• Txiki Begiristain ( Football Director of Manchester City)
• Dmitry Rybolovlev ( Owner of Monaco )
• Peter Lim ( Asian Magnate )
• Florentino Perez ( President of Real Madrid CF )

Real Madrid President Florentino Perez joined the dinner last & stayed for around 20 minutes according to the insiders. Obviously this has lead to all types of speculations & Football rumour. What surprises me was that it was not exactly a very "private" place to keep things under wraps, except if those involved wanted to deviate information & let us all into a dead end.

Whatever the true reasons, the local Football observers have put forward this interesting theory that has to do with transfers & signings next season. Real Madrid would transfer Di Maria over to Monaco, in return Monaco would transfer Radamel Falcao to Manchester City which finally, Manchester City would transfer Sergio Aguero to Real Madrid.  Wooow, right?

The fact is we don't know, just that the dinner did occur last night in a Madrid restaurant with all the mentioned European Football "Heavyweights". Stay tuned! 

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FC BARCELONA 2 MANCHESTER CITY 1 | BARÇA THROUGH TO Q/FINALS OF CHAMPIONS

FC Barcelona brought back a 2 goal advantage from England. Tonight they hosted Manchester City in the 2º leg return match & managed to win 2 - 1 & eliminate City from the UEFA Champions League competition with a 4 - 1 aggregate result.

Always a difficult endeavour from Manchester City & especially after Barça star Lionel Messi picked tonight to be inspired along with Dani Alves & company. The match was not without its controversial points either, with a penalty on Messi by Lescott in the 8th min not called, a goal to Neymar disallowed when it should have been called & a penalty on Manchester City Dzeko not called which then lead to a red card to defender Zabaleta for complaining the decision. 

Overall, & independently from the bad decisions, FC Barcelona did play the better Football & rightly deserved to advance onto the Quarter-Finals of Champions League. Manchester City did create their opportunities to score but they failed to be effective while the need for three  goals to put them back into the tie was too wide of an initial gap shut. The tie was basically decided in the 1º st leg game in Manchester.

All the goals came in the second half, with FC Barcelona getting ahead first with a magnificent Lionel Messi executed goal in the 67th min from a Fabregas pass. Manchester City managed to equalize in the 89th min thanks to Kompany, but Barça reacted almost immediately with a Dani Alves winner in the 91st min. 

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MANCHESTER CITY EYES LIONEL MESSI ?

I have said it here a couple of times, the future of Argentine star Lionel Messi at FC Barcelona for next season is unclear. There is a continuing "hum" for Barcelona & the Spanish Sports Press that suggest the Barça player is not at all comfortable.

Lionel Messi is not firing on all cylinders, that is, at the level that we have been accustomed to during the past seasons. He looks unhappy, concerned & at times with a "far away" stare that suggests his mind is elsewhere. It is no secret that the "tax avoiding" accusation has touched the player along with his family. Plus there are insinuations that things are not as "smooth" in the Barça dressing room as some may think & let us all to believe.

The French Club Paris St Germain has apparently already made contact & let known to the Argentine their mega-offer. Speculation puts a salary around the 25M€ / season mark, amazing but as I say, rumour. There is another Club with a keen interest which is Manchester City & according to local Sports papers may go ahead & pay the contract release clause, a astronomical 200M€ to get the player over. This is also speculation but a consistent one that is sounding regularly.

FC Barcelona have already said they will renew the contract of Messi with a substantial jump in his salary. However, there is the question that does arise, where will FC Barcelona find the money? There are comments that insinuate that the bank account at Camp Barça is not too healthy. This would suggest that perhaps some Barcelona directives may look favourably in selling their star if it means depositing 150M€ + figure. Publicly no Directive would admit this although privately some could see it as a "golden opportunity".
Stay tuned!  

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FC BARCELONA WINS 0 - 2 MANCHESTER CITY AWAY | UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

UEFA Champions League Football returned after a break of a couple of months with the Business end of the competition coming into play. Home & away elimination games with little room for error. Tonight Spanish Football Club FC Barcelona played Manchester City at their home stadium in the 1º leg match & managed a hard won 0 - 2 victory.

Good team Manchester City, they put up a grand performance & with 10 men from the 53rd min. In fact, the English Club played better in disadvantage & had their chances to have equalized but paid the price of not being effective during their given moments which allowed Barça a last moment second goal. Two away goals to the Spanish Club that gives them a handy cushion for the return 2º leg at Barcelona.

FC Barcelona started strong & dominated play reaching 75-77% possession. But this only lasted until City shook off their "nerves" & realized that Barça are just Football players. The English team began putting together their own play & it was not long before their "long style & physical play" had Barça out of their groove. Barcelona goalkeeper Valdes had to work hard & make some saves to keep things under control. The end of the first half ended up being very even. 

Early in the second half came the controversial play & moment. Manchester City defender Demechelis fouled Lionel Messi & the referee called a penalty plus a direct red card to the defender. It was the 53rd min & the replays put more doubt on the whole situation as it looked that the foul was outside the box ( Barça fans will claim a hand-ball penalty by Clichy not called in the 1º st half). A close call by the referee & Lionel Messi took the penalty & converted in the 54th min to put Barcelona ahead. Manchester City however found themselves at a disadvantage & they had to change their whole game plan. The English Club resorted to the counter-attack & brought on the talent of Nasri, later Dzeko for fresh legs & Silva lifted to star for his team.

Manchester City did not bulk at all & lifted which surprised the Spaniards who were on the back foot. Manchester City created numerous chances to which Barça keeper Valdes stopped or the English were just not accurate or effective enough to score the equalizer.

Then in the 90th min in a runaway play from Barça defender Alves he connected with Neymar who returned the ball & the Barça defender found space & scored the second goal. A second goal that puts this elimination halfway in the Barça bag. A punishment perhaps too harsh on Manchester City who had put in a very good performance. The reason was clear, don't take your chances & your dead, & against FC Barcelona "Football death" is always a possibility until the referee blows the final whistle.

Return 2º leg at "Camp Nou" were Manchester City has a slim chance, but Barça has the English by the "bollocks" at this stage.

Tomorrow more UEFA Champions League & another Spanish representative. Atletico de Madrid play away in Italy AC Milan.

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MANCHESTER CITY - ARSENAL FC SOUND OUT IKER CASILLAS

News locally & from overseas is mounting speculating about the future of Spanish International & Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas. The situation of the player with his Club is that the "regular" goalkeeper for Real Madrid is Diego Lopez who has been chosen by Coach Ancelotti to be the starting keeper in Spanish Liga. Iker Casillas has been given the keeper role in Champions League & the Spanish Cup, however these competitions are not regular as the weekly Spanish Football League competition.

This unusual situation for Iker Casillas has lead the Spanish International to consider perhaps moving on to find that regular playing position that a player of his stature looks for & needs to maintain himself at the elite level. Also the upcoming World Cup Finals in Brazil lurks in the forefront of the mind of Iker Casillas as his starting place with the Spanish Football National Team is also being questioned & not guaranteed.

Iker Casillas himself has let known in an indirect fashion & sometimes in a encrypted  manner, that leaving Real Madrid could be an option & the "rumour mill" locally sounds on a weekly basis. 

News out of England, concretely English paper "Daily Mirror" , has informed that intermediaries from Manchester City & Arsenal FC have began sounding out & have contacted the Real Madrid goalkeeper for a possible move. Manchester City has a "goalkeeper problem" with its regular keeper Hart sat on the bench after some terrible performances. Man City Coach Pellegrini ( ex Coach of Real Madrid ) knows well Casillas & considers that incorporating the Spanish International would give the keeper spot guarantees & security to tackle the rest of the season.

In both case, both Clubs would desire a fast incorporation, that is a transfer in the Winter Market window that opens the 1 st of  January 2014. The price would be high, no one has published the possible transfer fee but below 45-50M€ is not an option I believe.

I personally think that Iker Casillas will NOT move from Real Madrid this "Winter Market". Plus Iker Casillas would not be eligible to play Champions League for either Manchester City or Arsenal as he has already played Champions with Real Madrid. What I do believe is that if Casillas keeps playing "second fiddle" to Diego Lopez at the end of the season he may consider a summer transfer move, this is a possibility. Until then we will all be staying tuned & alert for further developments. 

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MANCHESTER CITY EYES REAL MADRID SERGIO RAMOS FOR NEXT SUMMER ?

The news piece coming up is not new & is recurring. From England & its Press ("Sunday People") comes the news that Manchester City is interested in the services of Real Madrid & Spanish International Defender Sergio Ramos. It is also written that Manchester City will be willing to put forward a first offer of around 38M€ for next summer.

Announced this there are other Clubs doing the "grapevine" with interest, one is Paris St Germain rumoured to be willing to pay Ramos 8,5M€/season as a salary. Plus believe it or not specualtion is that Chelsea FC current Coach & ex-Madrid Jose Mourinho has a "spot" for Sergio.

All of the above coincidently comes to light - or it is not a coincidence - when Sergio Ramos wishes to renew & better his current contract with Real Madrid. The defender finishes contract with the Spanish Football Club in 2017 & currently earns around 5,5M€ per season. Real Madrid considers this figure appropriate & does not wish to tackle the "Ramos contract" at this early stage & has not urgency.

The improved economic conditions/contract of Cristiano Ronaldo & the arrival of Gareth Bale with a nice contractual package has lead the Spanish International to believe that he deserves to be "appreciated" & wishes "improvements".

The stories coming out about possible interests & offers from other Clubs are habitual instruments used by player representatives to force the negotiations with Club or find extra leverage in their bargaining positions. Sometimes the "other Clubs" are interestedly "leaked" to media or are "over- exaggerated".

Either way the stories are worth a follow & will be kept an eye on. Stay tuned!

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MANCHESTER UNITED - MANCHESTER CITY CALLING OUT TO ANDRES INIESTA ?

Spanish International Football player Andres Iniesta ends contract with FC Barcelona in 2015. The Club is currently in negotiations with Iniesta to renew his contract & the player has turned back the first offer. This has attracted the "Big Football Sharks" to come in & investigate the waters in case their is a possibility of a feast. 

From England - "Daily Star" - comes the news that Manchester United & Manchester City are already circling the possible prey & are said to be willing to do & give what it takes to lure Iniesta out of Barcelona. City has the advantage that their current top Club Directives are ex-Barça & are familiar with the player & his inner circle. 

Beforehand, Barça fans should not be concerned. The player has voiced his desire to continue & finish his career at FC Barcelona. But, what Iniesta has not said is that he wishes to be shown the "love"  that others have been shown & have not been as long as he has at the Club.

The arrival of Neymar at FC Barcelona has raffled the feathers of the "corral", especially after the players believe that Neymar earns 17M€ / season. This calculation comes from the 50M€ advance to the father of Neymar ( 10M€ / season for the 5 year contract ) plus the 7M€ / season that Barça says is the salary of Neymar. The "Roosters" in the dressing room aren't buying the Club Directives manoeuvres & want the same conditions.

Football Insiders say that the Iniesta team is asking Barça for a salary rise of 17M€ / season & here is were the initiation negotiations have started. I personally don´t think money is the prime issue with Iniesta, but were I do believe there is a possible "Achilles heal" is with bench time & changing times ahead.

Football changes on a daily basis, what is said today is disclaimed tomorrow. The best friend of Iniesta goalkeeper Victor Valdes is leaving the Club next season for new experiences ( apart from the bad vibes with Club Directives ). Iniesta may in time also wish for experience new sensations especially if he is rested too much on the bench & sees that his contribution will be less in coming seasons due to the explosion of a current player, a new incorporation & new ideas from the Coach ( or new Coach ). Said simply anything can happen & Football changes things rapidly.

Manchester City & United do well to position themselves & let known early that they are alternatives. Having said this Real Madrid is the biggest shark of them all & they too will be circling.

Stay tuned!

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MANCHESTER CITY PREPARING OFFER FOR REAL MADRID PEPE ?

The following rumour has been persistent especially from the UK. However, it has gained in temperature locally with Football observers commenting that Englsih Premier League Cub Manchester City is preparing an offer for Real Madrid defender Pepe.

The talk is that Man City will offer 25M€, while Real Madrid does not wish to advance until the figure hits the 30M€. Plus there is no communication out of Real Madrid or new Coach Ancelotti that Pepe is not needed for next season. The Portuguese International of 30 years of age still has years ahead but Madrid may wish to take the money while they have the future guaranteed with young defender Rafael Varane.

With the departure of Kolo Toure from Manchester City, the English Club thinks that Pepe would be the ideal substitute. Question is will Pepe wish to leave Real Madrid as this is another issue all together. Stay tuned!

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REAL MADRID CF SHUTS SIGNING OF ISCO FOR AROUND 30M€

Impressive offensive by Real Madrid in the last 24 hours. Just when most observers believed that Malaga FC & Spanish U-21 International Isco was close to Manchester City, Real Madrid comes in & according to Spanish media shuts the deal.

Spanish radio & Sports papers today put on their covers that ISCO will be the third signing of Real Madrid for next season ( Carvajal & Casimero are the other two ). The operation was shut yesterday with Malaga FC for a figure that is around the 30M€ mark (other sources say 20M€). The player signs for the next 5 years.

What finally convinced the "Isco circle" was that Real Madrid has made it clear to the player that they have no intention of leaving him on the bench. The firm idea of Real Madrid is to give the midfielder playing time & convert the International in an important future piece within the squad.

Manchester City & especially their new Coach Manuel Pellegrini will be disappointed as Isco was a priority, but the sirens of a Club like Real Madrid still sound much sweeter than most other Clubs in the World.

Real Madrid has intention of formalizing the transfer & all the paperwork next week & presenting the player to media.

Said all this, no official statement has come out of Malaga FC , Real Madrid or the player himself. As I always say & remind until there is an official statement this is still speculation & even rumour.

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SPANISH FOOTBALL TRANSFERS | CLUBS TUG - OF WAR - TO SIGN ISCO & THIAGO

News out of England keeps confirming what has been published here in recent weeks, that the race is on to secure & sign two  Spanish Football promises & pearls. The English newspaper "Daily Mirror" publish that U-21 Spanish International ISCO & the U-21 Spanish Team Captain THIAGO are closer than ever to English Football.

There is a tug-of -war between Real Madrid & Manchester City over the services of Isco. Real Madrid wishes to shut the negotiations asap which has prompted an offensive from Manchester City to attempt to secure the player within the next 48 hours. The advantage that the English Club has is that ex-Malaga Coach Pellegrini - now Coach of Man City - is considered the "Football Father" of Isco & has promised the player playing time, something that Real Madrid cannot with players already there like Ozil , Modric & Kaka.

Nothing is certain as yet as news locally is confusing & contradictory with some influential media observers saying Isco is close to Real Madrid, while others say Manchester City is in front running. 

The other "Spanish Football Pearl" is Thiago Alcantara who also wishes to play more because his objective is to reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with Spain. His current Club FC Barcelona cannot guarantee playing time with Busquets, Cesc Fabregas, Xavi & Iniesta all ahead of the player for the midfield positions.  The player is in contact with Manchester United & today from England it is reported that Manchester United has an agreement with Thiago with an offered salary of 6M€ / season. All that has to be done now is that the player accept the offer & that Manchester United pay the 18M€ contract release clause.

Stay tuned as it promises to be exciting with theses two young Football players over the coming days.

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REAL MADRID | ZIDANE INSISTS IN SIGNING ISCO

Zinedine Zidane will have  a bigger role in Real Madrid next season. The Real Madrid President Florentini Perez wishes the Frenchman in a suit as Football Director, but Zidane prefers the tracksuit & has asked to be the assistant of the expected new Coach Carlo Ancelotti. However, the ex-Real Madrid player will continue advising the President on all "Sporting- Football" matters.  

Zidane recommended to Real young French defender Varane, plus has advised on the signing of Tottenham Hotspurs player Gareth Bale. According to Spanish radio & Spanish Sports daily "AS" Zinedine Zidane insists firmly on the signing of Spanish U-21 International & Malaga FC palyer ISCO.

There have been contacts already, as posted here weeks back, & there is a contract release clause of 35M€ that can be negotiated. However, the ex-Coach of Isco now at Manchester City, Manuel Pellegrini also wants the "Spanish Pearl" & has guaranteed Isco playing time & to be a vital piece of his new set-up. Real Madrid on the other hand is full of midfield stars ( Ozil, Modric, Callejon, Khedira, Xabi Alonso, Casemiro...) & cannot say the same which has discouraged Isco from saying 100% yes to Madrid & seriously thinking in Manchester City.

The young Spanish U-21 International is starring in the Israel UEFE U-21 Euro Championships & has caught the eye of everyone, & Zidane has been totally convinced that Isco is "World Class" for Real Madrid. So much so, that apparently he has personally advised & fully insisted that Isco become a Club signing priority.

To change the mind of Isco away from Manchester City, Real Madrid wants new Coach Carlo Ancelotti - if & when it happens - to sit down with the player & clear all his doubts. The player wants playing time & Real Madrid thinks that coming from the words of Ancelotti will sway his final decision their way.

Stay tuned as this will become interesting. Meanwhile Isco is exploding in the U-21 Euros.
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MANCHESTER CITY COACH PELLEGRINI WANTS REAL MADRID DI MARIA

The Manchester City new Coach Manuel Pellegrini has clear ideas on how he wishes the English Club to play their Football. With the signing of Sevilla FC & Spanish International winger Jesus Navas, it was clear that pace & "opening up the field" will be important i his scheme. With a right-side winger secured Coach Pelligrini needs to sure up the left side with a class player, & that player is Real Madrid Argentine International Angel Di Maria.

News out of England via the paper "Daily Mirror" comments that the Manchester City Coach has asked the Club specifically to attempt the signing of Di Maria. The initial speculated offer is 35M€ but Real Madrid will not drop below 40M€ for starters. This has lead to rumours that Manchester City "top brass" are expected to fly over to Madrid to begin the initial negotiations with Real Madrid.

The signing will not be easy at all. The expected new Coach of Real Madrid Carlo Ancelotti counts with Angel Di Maria for next season. Plus, the player expressed to Argentine press ("Ole") that he was very happy at Real Madrid & wishes to continue at the Club.

As with all the top World Football players apart from Manchester City, there have been continuing rumours of interest from Paris St Germain, Monaco & Manchester United. I will keep an eye on proceeding with Di Maria & inform of developments.

Stay tuned!

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MANCHESTER CITY INTEREST FOR REAL MADRID PEPE

Real Madrid 30 year old defender & Portuguese International Pepe has not had the best end to the 2012-2013 season. A notable drop in form with a questioned Champions League semi final performance against Dortmund ( the game Lewandowski scored four goals ), the explosion & regularity of young team-mate Rafael Varane & the fall-out with Mourinho, has blemished somewhat the "union" between the player, fans & Club.

The Spanish Football Club is willing to hear offers & this has sparked the interest of Manchester City with their new Coach Manuel Pellegrini. Spanish Sports media speculate that Real Madrid & Manchester City will meet up next week to discuss a 25M€ offer for Pepe.

The player earns 3.5M€ per season at Real Madrid & Manchester City is said to be willing to offer Pepe 7M€. This could be the last big contract for the Portuguese defender & he may look favourably at new experiences. From the perspective of Real Madrid the Club needs to make room & build the bank account if speculated news signing interests like Bale, Cavani etc are to become reality.

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