On a day when Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson slammed the “kamikaze” spending of rival Premier League clubs, Manchester City made it clear they were not finished in the transfer market.
New City striker Mario Balotelli was officially presented by the club on Tuesday after his move from Inter and City manager Roberto Mancini said the proposed £28 million (US$44 million) transfer of James Milner from Aston Villa was nearing completion.
Stephen Ireland is set to go the other way, while City striker Craig Bellamy has stepped down a division to join Cardiff City on loan.
Goalkeeper Shay Given could also be on his way out of Eastlands after losing his place to England’s Joe Hart, but it is the Milner move that is uppermost in Mancini’s mind.
“I hope we can close it between today [Tuesday] and tomorrow [Wednesday],” Mancini said. “I think Milner is a good player, an English player — which is important. I think he can play in different positions.”
Asked if the deal would involve Ireland, Mancini added: “I hope so. We have today and tomorrow to close the deal.”
Meanwhile, striker Balotelli insisted City were always the club he wanted to join, because of the influence of former Inter manager Mancini.
“I am happy to be here at Manchester City because of the manager and the environment,” the 20-year-old said. “I was sorry to leave my family and friends behind in Italy, but not for professional reasons.”
Balotelli was often criticized by coach Jose Mourinho, when the Portuguese was in charge of Inter, but the player said: “I am not a bad boy. I am just a normal guy.”
“All of us were said to be bad boys when we are young, but I have worked with Mario before and he is a normal person,” Mancini said. “He is young player, only 20 years old, who can do a lot in the Premier League. He has all the qualities needed to become a fantastic player.”
Meanwhile, Wales captain Bellamy left Manchester for his hometown club Cardiff on a season-long loan deal, but the striker’s move sparked fury at Scottish Premier League Motherwell. Championship (second division) team Cardiff faced immediate threats from Motherwell to send in bailiffs to collect an alleged debt from last year’s £175,000 transfer of defender Paul Quinn.
Motherwell, who said Cardiff should not be in the transfer market until the debt has been paid, also threatened to issue a winding-up order.
Motherwell chairman John Boyle told Sky Sports News: “We [Motherwell] have been put off, fobbed off and messed around since January. We have been respectful and persistent, but we had no other option but to take Cardiff to court on Friday and they didn’t even bother to turn up.”
“We have no alternative but to take legal action and we will pursue it vigorously. We will consider issuing a winding-up order or literally sending bailiffs to their ground on a home match and collecting our cash,” Boyle said.
Cardiff chief executive Gethin Jenkins said the Motherwell issue would be settled quickly.
“Our lawyers have been in communication with them and it will be resolved within the next seven days,” Jenkins said.
The much-traveled Bellamy was diplomatic about the Italian on Tuesday and refused to criticize Mancini.
“There’s no ill feeling. I hope he does well, he’s a top manager,” Bellamy told a press conference. “I’ve come home, I don’t mind dipping [down for] a year and hopefully leading this club into the Premiership.”
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