Gai Assulin

[Alioune DVToure]

What's the deal with this kid? The UK wikipedia entry says that he's currently clubless, the Spanish one that he's here playing in the reserves. Have we kept hold of him or not? If so, does anyone know how he's progressing? Can we expect to see him get snippets of game time this season?

[Ted Hughes]

I recon he's not really here.

[john@staustell]

Well it's a strange one this.

Marca, 8th Oct:

http://www.marca.com/2010/10/08/futbol/ ... 1287822937

Daily Mail 8th Oct:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... ds-newsxml

Jewish Chronicle 6th Oct:

http://www.thejc.com/sport/sport-news/3 ... ye-assulin

and lastly Yahoo on 11th Oct:

http://es.eurosport.yahoo.com/11102010/ ... messi.html

After Yahoo there is no reference at all to the guy in Spanish media circles. And of course nothing from the club.

Got to be some agent-inspired hoax hasn't it?

[Ted Hughes]

Perhaps he's not actually had his trial/fitness tests etc yet, prior to signing due to his injury?

[Alioune DVToure]

Perhaps he's not actually had his trial/fitness tests etc yet, prior to signing due to his injury?

Or perhaps, in true City spirit, we won't sign him until we're 100% certain he's doomed to a career wrecked by injury-proneness.

[Lee_R]

We dont have reserves mate.. its the 'elite development team'.

[Alioune DVToure]

We dont have reserves mate.. its the 'elite development team'.

True! But I was just quoting the Spanish wikipedia entry.

[AlpsMaster]

Perhaps he's not actually had his trial/fitness tests etc yet, prior to signing due to his injury?

Or perhaps, in true City spirit, we won't sign him until we're 100% certain he's doomed to a career wrecked by injury-proneness.

My thoughts exactly. Maybe he's failed his medical because he's not injured yet!

[mr_nool]

this thread is so gai.

[Wooders]

can we not sign him until jan or something daft?

[Alioune DVToure]

can we not sign him until jan or something daft?

Not a cunting clue. I've read everything I can find on the kid in English, Spanish and Catalan. The last trace of him was in Marca. Apparently he signed for us on 8th October. No 'official' mention of him on mcfc.co.uk - only in the gossip section. He doesn't seem to have a sqaud number or anything. Mysterious.

[Crossie]

He can sign whenever probably because of his age and the fact he has no contract.

[rabbit]

He doesn't exist.

[Im_Spartacus]

Glauber Berti mk2

[rabbit]

Gai Assulin AKA Keyser Söze

[spiv]

I'm sure i heard somewhere he had signed a four year contract, but then again i do listen to 1089 talkshite.

[Socrates]

Playing for our elite development allstar superhero squad side in an elite friendly against Ajax according to this...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1328229/Gai-Assulin-make-Manchester-City-bow-unique-clash-Ajax-reserves.html

Gai Assulin to make Manchester City bow in unique clash with Ajax reserves

By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 10:59 PM on 9th November 2010

Manchester City are ready to blood former Barcelona midfielder Gai Assulin in a pioneering friendly match with Ajax reserves tomorrow.

City stepped in ahead of Arsenal to agree a four year deal with teenager Assulin after he was released by Barcelona in the summer. However, a knee ligament injury has delayed his appearance in a City shirt until now.

Tomorrow's fixture in Amsterdam has greater significance though as it is seen as a prelude to a New Generation League which will pit development sides from 16 of Europe's top clubs against each other.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham have also expressed keen interest in getting involved and it will entail sides, comprised of U18s and reserves, playing against their counterparts in Europe in an effort to raise reserve team standards.

City's young side, coached by Scott Sellars, will play tomorrow afternoon before being given VIP treatment at the Ajax senior team's Dutch Cup tie in the evening. If he impresses, Assulin is likely to be loaned out to gain more experience.

Meanwhile, Wolfsburg have inquired about City striker Roque Santa Cruz and that could threaten Fulham's chances of signing him with City keen to strike a deal for Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko in January. Santa Cruz could become a makeweight in a £35million deal but Bayern Munich are also keen on Dzeko.

[Ted Hughes]

I'm quite excited about the prospect of this chap. I don't think we'd be giving him the time of day unless we thought he really had something. I really like the idea of this Euro reserve league thing too. I think it will help English teams more than any of the others & I think it would be interesting & perhaps entertaining to watch.

[john@staustell]

Gai Assulin lives!!!

Still the great mystery of why the club never mentions him though.

[Mike J]

if its true that arsenal were sniffing around he cant be bad. wenger rarely gets it wrong.

have heard about this lad for years now. supposed to be a real talent.