Balotelli snubs United to join City
He may be loathed in Milan, but Mario Balotelli will be loved in the blue half of Manchester after snubbing Sir Alex Ferguson to join City.
And not only did he shun Fergie, sources close to the striker claim he said no to a bigger pay packet at Old Trafford.
Ferguson was quietly working behind the scenes on a move for Balotelli and was prepared to offer him more than the £65,000-a-week he has agreed with Manchester City.
Chelsea also wanted Balotelli and the striker’s decision to join City is a real coup for Roberto Mancini.
Balotelli’s capture will take Mancini’s spending over the £100million mark for this summer, but at least the City boss will save a few bob on the Italian Under-21 star’s wages.
Mancini claims this as proof that Sheikh Mansour’s billions do not make them soft touches in the transfer market.
“There is money to sign everyone, but not to pay them a lot, as some people are saying,” he said.
Mancini was able to sign Balotelli for less than what United were offering because the teenager is so keen to be reunited with his old Inter boss.
Balotelli, 19, regards Mancini as a mentor because he helped bring him through at the San Siro.
Mancini signed him in 2006 as a 16-year-old and handed him his debut four months later when he had just turned 17 in December 2007 as a substitute against Cagliari.
Mancini, who knew where the back of the net was as a player, could see the youngster’s huge potential and in his second appearance three days later, he scored twice against Reggina in the Coppa Italia.
Super Mario, as he is nicknamed, played a cameo role in Inter’s Serie A title success in 2008 and finished his first campaign with seven goals from 15 appearances.
Balotelli was disappointed by Mancini’s departure that summer and lost his way without his guiding hand.
He had a love-hate relationship with Mancini’s successor Jose Mourinho - they both loved to hate each other - and was axed after one bust-up too many.
For all of his problems, Balotelli still managed 20 goals in 59 Serie A games to prove he is one of the hottest young striking talents in the world.
Unlike Mourinho, Mancini feels he knows how to handle the precocious Balotelli and claims he could become a huge star at City.
“He is one of the four or five strikers that interest us,” he said. “I was the first to believe in him and I’m convinced about what he can do.
“Mario has two qualities that suit us: his talent and his age. And I want people like him who are able to build a cycle of success at Manchester City.”
City’s deal maker Brian Marwood has agreed Balotelli’s transfer in principle with Inter and the last missing piece is the fee.
The Blues claim a figure has yet to be agreed, despite claims in Italy that they will pay an initial £25.1million, rising to £29.3million.
Balotelli seems to think that is a formality and held an impromptu leaving party with his friends at Milan’s trendy Van Gogh restaurant on Saturday night where he told everyone he has agreed a five-year deal worth £65,000-a-week.
His pals unveiled a hastily-made banner, which read ‘Even 1000km away, you’ll always be in our hearts’.
His agent Mino Raiola, who has exasperated City in the negotiations, feels this is premature and claimed yesterday that the transfer had not yet been finalised, even though Inter believe it is a done deal.
“Nothing has been signed between Balotelli and Manchester City,” said Raiola.
Despite Raiola’s attempts to talk down the move, it seems only a matter of time before Balotelli joins Mancini’s blue revolution.
And, ironically, he could make his City debut against Inter in Baltimore on Saturday.
City offer SWP to Villa as makeweight in Milner deal
Shaun Wright-Phillips is being offered to Aston Villa in a cut-price makeweight in the James Milner deal.
Manchester City are ready to offload the fans' favourite who will be surplus to requirements if they can land Villa midfielder Milner.
City are having to trim their squad and England winger Wright-Phillips is one of the big-names who is set to leave Eastlands this summer.
Big-spending City will have to trim their squad down to 25 to comply with Premier League rules next season and that means Wright-Phillips, Craig Bellamy, Micah Richards, Stephen Ireland and Roque Santa Cruz will be surplus to requirements.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp fancies Bellamy - who could be allowed to leave for less than half the £14m he joined City for 18 months ago - and is also an admirer of Wright-Phillips.
But with Aaron Lennon also at White Hart Lane, the Bellamy deal is far more likely and City are keen to do business on Wright-Phillips with his contract talks having reached deadlock.
Wright-Phillips is believed to be ready to move to Villa but City may have to convince Martin O'Neill who is less than impressed with their transfer tactics on the Milner deal.
Villa have also asked to be kept informed about AC Milan's former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini as a potential Milner replacement.
France international Flamini, 26, has had a disastrous two years at AC Milan since leaving Arsenal and may be ready to come back to England.
City were interested in January and now Villa are watching developments and agents are working to see whether AC Milan would sell with strong interest in him from England.
Manchester City play down talk of Fernando Torres bid
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is not actively pursuing Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, BBC Sport understands.
New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has admitted Torres is unhappy with the club, but that any approach depends on the Spanish star wanting to move.
Liverpool have placed a reported £70m valuation on the 26-year-old, who has also been linked with Chelsea.
And though Mancini has spoken of his admiration for Torres, City have not yet registered an interest in him.
However, City have stepped up their interest in Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko, while Mario Balotelli of Inter Milan remains on their wanted list as they look to bolster their forward options ahead of the new season.
The club are open to offers for Brazilian star Robinho, who went on loan to Santos last season, and could also be willing to loan out Craig Bellamy.
But BBC Sport understands that reports that English trio Wayne Bridge, Micah Richards and Shaun Wright-Phillips will be sold are wide of the mark.
As for Torres, Mancini had said he could be one of "two of three strikers" he could make a move for if the situation was right.
"Torres is one of the best strikers in Europe and is already playing in the Premier League for three years and knows it very well," said Mancini.
"But it depends on his situation - his price and whether he wants to come."
Torres last saw action as Spain won the World Cup final, limping off in extra-time with a groin injury shortly after playing a major role in Andres Iniesta's winning goal against the Netherlands.
However, he is expected to be fit for the start of the season, with Liverpool facing Arsenal on 15 August and Manchester City playing Tottenham a day earlier.
The forward, who joined Liverpool from Atletico Madrid in 2007, signed a new deal at Anfield last year but is believed to be unhappy with the club because he feels let down by broken promises regarding investment in new players.
Hodgson wants to keep him but has conceded: "Unfortunately, I cannot do much more. His beef is with the club and not me."
On Sunday former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish told BBC Sport that he hoped Hodgson's arrival would help persuade Torres to stay at Anfield.
Reds captain Steven Gerrard has indicated he expects to stay at the club, while Joe Cole's arrival from Chelsea could be another factor in Torres's future plans.
"When Torres sees that and talks with Roy I'm sure he'll give us good news," Dalglish told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme.
"I hope Torres stays. Only Fernando knows what he is going to do. Unfortunately for him he is injured but he is a fantastic player and is very happy around the club and the city.
"The fact that Stevie is staying will be a great help and players like Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Jonjo Shelvey and Danny Wilson mean there is buying for present and the future."
City boss Mancini is still interested in Aston Villa's England midfielder James Milner, although he insisted the club would not be held to ransom.
"When Manchester City enquire about a £10m player, the club asks for £20m. That is not good for us," stated Mancini.
"James is still a player who interests us but only at the right price."
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Midfielder Javier Mascherano has been told he can leave Liverpool, having held talks with the club's hierarchy. ESPN Soccernet
And Inter Milan are thought to be lining up a £25m bid for the Argentine international. Daily Mail
The Premier League are keeping close tabs on Chelsea's £20m pursuit of Benfica's Brazilian midfielder Ramires, who is involved in a third-party ownership deal with agent Kia Joorabchian. the Sun
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson will step up his pursuit for Mexico international Carlos Salcido. Dutch club PSV Eindhoven are likely to demand about £3m for the defender. the Sun
Manchester United are monitoring the progress of Belgium international Steven Defour, with the club weighing up a £13m bid for the Standard Liege midfielder. the Sun
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is wanted by his first club Osasuna, a transfer that could rekindle the Gunners' move for Fulham's Mark Schwarzer. Daily Mail
Ajax manager Martin Jol wants to sign Middlesbrough striker Mido. Daily Mail
Fulham, Sunderland and Bolton are chasing Portsmouth striker John Utaka. The Nigeria international is also interesting German clubs Cologne and Bayer Leverkusen. Daily Star
Hull striker Kamel Ghilas is a loan target for French side Arles-Avignon. Daily Mail
Roma are stepping up their efforts to sign midfielder Valon Behrami from West Ham and could offer goalkeeper Doni or striker Stefano Okaka in exchange. Daily Mail
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes says he regrets not coming out of international retirement to play for England at the World Cup in South Africa.Daily Mail
Scholes said he had only two hours to consider whether to join England boss Fabio Capello's squad in South Africa. the Sun
Injured Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate has five weeks to save his career before new Premier League rules consign him to the sidelines. Daily Express
Manchester United have similar worries over Owen Hargreaves and Anderson as the Premier League introduces new regulations that state clubs must name a 25-man squad by 31 August. Daily Express
London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said England's build-up to the World Cup was disrupted by too much travelling and being overworked in training sessions. Daily Telegraph
Netherlands international Royston Drenthe claims he is on the verge of joining Liverpool. He announced it on his Facebook page and said: "I will soon be joining Liverpool FC. I hope I will have a good season." the Independent
X Factor favourites and Manchester United twats Jedward have offered Wayne Rooney a cameo appearance in an upcoming documentary and the England striker says the Irish twins can use his box at Old Trafford after they bumped into each other in a London hotel. the Sun
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