Manchester City complete huge €52m contract to secure player
French magazine France Football have an exclusive in their edition this week. They claim that Manchester City have secured Samir Nasri to a new contract. There had been talk of a new deal for Nasri for some time but that was somewhat overshadowed by his exclusion from the France squad, his girlfriend's reaction to it and then Didier Deschamps continuing the whole thing by starting legal action.
Nasri went off on holiday with his girlfriend to take his mind off things but his agents were finalsing a contract and France Football say it has been done. It's a deal which will take Nasri through to June 2019 and is worth a huge €52m. That works at just over €200,000 per week before any bonuses are added.
Manchester City didn't want to risk one of their best players from last season running down his contract and that gave Nasri's agent, Jean-Pierre Bernès, power in negotiations.
After his good season with Manchester City it was even more of a surprise that Nasri was excluded from the France squad and it appeared to be a decision taken on personality rather than football grounds. France have started the World Cup off very well, and if they continue that will go some way to justifying Deschamp's decision, but Nasri seems pretty happy on holiday right now anyway.
Atletico Madrid eyeing Man City's Negredo as Chelsea-bound Diego Costa's replacement
ATLETICO MADRID are eyeing Manchester City's Alvaro Negredo as a possible replacement for Chelsea-bound Diego Costa.
Costa is set to quit Atletico for Stamford Bridge in a £32m deal this summer.
With the transfer as good as done, the capital club are turning their attention to a replacement for their Brazilian-born Spanish striker as they look to repeat their surprise La Liga title win in the 2014-15 season.
And according to reports in Italy, City frontman Negredo is on their radar.
The Spain striker would appear to fit the bill of what Atleti are looking for, with his physical presence likely to be welcomed by Diego Simeone.
Negredo enjoyed a successful first season at the Etihad, netting 23 times as City won the Capital One Cup and the Premier League.
City determined to keep Dzeko
The Bosnian forward has had interest from Serie A but Manuel Pellegrini is not interested in letting go of his striker.
Manchester will resist attempts to lure Edin Dzeko away from the Etihad this summer.
The Bosnian striker’s international team-mate Miralem Pjanic believes he could be a star in Italy – but Manuel Pellegrini wants him to stay with the Premier League champions.
Dzeko’s stunning form last season has made him a target for clubs across Europe.
Juventus, Inter Milan, Roma, Valencia and Monaco have all been linked with the 28-year-old, who scored 26 goals as City clinched a second title in three years.
Pjanic, currently on World Cup duty with the forward in Brazil, believes he would be an ideal target for Roma.
He is quoted as saying: “Dzeko has told me that he likes Italy.
“And I think he would be a coup if we signed him.”
That followed on from comments made by Inter Milan president Erick Thohir earlier this summer, linking the Italians with a move for Dzeko.
“I like players such as Dzeko but today we cannot afford top players. I hope tomorrow we can,” he said.
Dzeko enters the final year of his Etihad contract this summer, but any suitors are sure to face fierce resistance from City.
Despite failing to fully establish himself as first choice at the club since arriving in a £27m deal from Wolfsburg in 2011, he played a pivotal part in their title success in Pellegrini’s first year in charge.
His form in the second half of the campaign was crucial as they pipped Liverpool and Chelsea to the post – scoring 16 goals in 27 games since the turn of the year.
With Alvaro Negredo’s goals drying up after Christmas and Sergio Aguero spending time on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, Dzeko’s contribution was vital.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho even claimed that the Bosnian should have been voted Player of the Year ahead of Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.
“If the champion is City, then I would say a Man City player and if I have to choose, I choose Dzeko,” said the Portuguese – prompting speculation that he would launch his own bid to take him to Stamford Bridge.
Pellegrini has succeeded in coaxing the best out of a player who has often flattered to deceive.
Now he is one of a host of stars whothe club want to tie down to long-term deals.
Defender Aleks Kolarov signed a three-year contract last week, while City also hope to secure the futures of Dzeko, Joe Hart, James Milner and Samir Nasri.
Pellegrini was glowing in his praise of Dzeko’s contribution at the end of last season.
Regarding contract negotiations, the manager said: “There are five other players, not only Edin.
“I think Edin, though, has improved a lot during the season.
“Not only because he is scoring goals because he always scores goals but in the way he works the whole game.
“I think that was one of the most important things he’s done this season.
“Without the ball he plays for the team. He is not just waiting to receive the ball to try to score.
“He works the whole game and he is playing very well also.”
Inter Milan want Manchester City's Stevan Jovetic on loan
Inter Milan are apparently preparing to offer Stevan Jovetic a route out of his Manchester City injury nightmare by launching a loan bid for the striker this summer.
A large amount of time in the treatment room limited the £22m signing from Fiorentina to only two Premier League starts in his debut season at the Etihad Stadium.
City are optimistic that the 24-year-old will come good next term, but acknowledge that he is likely to be fourth-choice forward and could be tempted into parting with him as they fight to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.
According to the Daily Mail, Inter would be interested in bringing Jovetic back to Serie A, and would be willing to pay £18m for his services, but only after he proves his fitness during a season-long loan.
Jovetic still managed six goals in 16 games last season, despite struggling to command a starting place.
Sunderland confirm signing of ex-Man City stopper Costel Pantilimon on four-year deal
The giant Romanian spent three seasons at the Etihad but has not been offered a new deal and will join up with Gus Poyet's men on July 1
Sunderland have signed goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon on a four-year deal.
The 6ft 8in Romanian was released by Manchester City at the end of last season after three years with the club, where he made 29 appearances.
And despite interest from abroad, Pantilimon has decided to stay in England and will link up with the Black Cats on July 1.
He told the club's official website: "It is a great privilege and honour to join a club like Sunderland. They have an amazing history and tradition and of course passionate fans.
"When I left Manchester City, it was important that I chose a club with good ambition and a head coach who has the hunger and desire to take the team forward.
"After speaking with the boss, I knew this was the right place and he was the right man. I can't wait to start."
Pantilimon was largely second-choice during his time with City, although he enjoyed a run in the side last season when Manuel Pellegrini dropped Joe Hart.
He becomes Sunderland's third summer signing of the transfer window so far, joining Billy Jones and Jordi Gomez at the Stadium of Light
[spoiler]Irina Shayk - WAG of star Potugese player who just got Muller'd
[/spoiler]Mario Balotelli has shared his vision of an Italy all-star World Cup team, filling up the squad’s pages in this year’s Panini sticker album with images of himself.
The striker, who headed in the Azzurri’s winning goal in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over England and is no stranger to self-referential humour, placed the stickers on each of his team-mates’ spaces in the book before posting the result on his official Facebook page on Monday, accompanied by the now-familiar meme: “WHY ALWAYS ME?”
His splurge will come as a particular blow to avid collectors seeking sticker number 335 to complete their set: judging by the boxes, and discarded stickers of other players, strewn around the album on his photograph, it took no small amount of effort to acquire the 14 stickers necessary to complete a team of Balotellis.
England forward Daniel Sturridge is prepared to do 'anything' to help his side beat Uruguay in Thursday's pivotal World Cup Group D game. Daily Mirror
Uruguay's players have urged coach Oscar Tabarez to start with Luis Suarez against England. Daily Mirror
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet offers an insight into the one-track mind of his compatriot Suarez, 27. The Times
Wayne Rooney has been training with England's reserves as he battles to save his World Cup. The 28-year-old striker has also been taking part in extra shooting practice. Daily Mirror
Spain forward Juan Mata, 26, says the defending champions should not change their style, despite suffering a 5-1 defeat by the Netherlands in their opening match. DSSC
Spain boss Vicente del Bosque admits that he will make changes as Spain prepare for their vital meeting with Chile. Guardian
England manager Roy Hodgson risks a rift with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger by recalling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 20. The Times
Belgium's Eden Hazard, 23, has been ordered to put his country before his ego if he wants to become one of the top five players in world football. The Sun
Sunderland midfielder Adam Johnson, 26, is a shock target for French side AS Monaco. The Sun
Napoli manager Rafael Benitez has ruled out trying to take Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina back to the Serie A club. The Sun
Everton have bid £10m to beat Arsenal and Manchester United to Torino's 26-year-old forward Alessio Cerci. Daily Express
Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, 26, is a target for Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. Daily Express
Winger Tom Ince, 22, is in talks with Queens Park Rangers over a move to Loftus Road. Sky Sports
Arsenal are ready to make a £25m move to sign Mario Balotelli, 23, from AC Milan. Daily Star
Alan Irvine, the new West Bromwich Albion head coach, is out to prove his critics wrong after his appointment met with a negative reaction from many of the club's supporters. Daily Star
Coleen Rooney, wife of England striker Wayne, has flown to Brazil with the couple's two sons Kai and Klay and intends to stay until the side is knocked out of the World Cup. Daily Telegraph
Germany players celebrated their 4-0 win over Portugal by posing with Chancellor Angela Merkel in the dressing room. DSSC
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