CITY TO LAND £52M VILLA

• zocoss

  7 Dec 08, 23:43

  CITY TO LAND £52M VILLA

  Mark Hughes will sign Valencia striker in January

  

  DAVID VILLA - will join City

   

  DAVID VILLA’S record £52million switch to Manchester City will move a step closer when his agent jets into England this week. The Valencia striker will be City’s first world-class signing in January when the transfer window opens. 

  City boss Mark Hughes has targeted the Spanish hit-man and the deal has been rubber-stamped by City’s Arab owners. 

  They are determined to make an impact signing in the transfer window and will take advantage of Valencia’s perilous financial position. 

  The Spanish side have been hit badly by the global economic crisis and admitted they will be forced to cash in on their major asset in the New Year.

  Real Madrid believed they were in pole position but signed £17m Ajax star Klass-Jan Huntelaar in midweek — and City surged ahead when they made it clear they would instantly match Valencia’s asking price.

  Contract

  Villa will join Robinho as the Premier League’s top wage earner on £160,000-a-week as City’s Abu Dhabi owners make good on their promise to buy the world’s best. 

  Reports in Spain claimed City representatives have met twice met with Villa’s agent, Jose Luis Tamargo, in Madrid to discuss the move. 

  Villa, who turned 27 on Wednesday, has a £125m compensation clause built into his contract at Valencia but the club are so cash-strapped they have been forced to waive that in the face of City’s interest. 

  And while he signed a new contract in the summer which ties him to Valencia until 2014, he knows he has no option but to move on.

  Impressed

   

  He said: “I will stay at Valencia for as long as the president wants me. If he tells me I have to be sold to save the club, then that is his decision and I’ll look for a fresh challenge.” 

  Villa was the top scorer at Euro 2008 with four goals and is also second top scorer in La Liga behind Samuel Eto’o. A source close to the deal said: “It is clear City need a world-class striker and Villa fits the bill. 

  “The Arabs have been impressed with him and Mark Hughes is convinced he will do well in English football. “His agent will be flying in on Tuesday and there is every chance talks and a deal will be concluded by the end of the week.”

   

• Y_Shun

  7 Dec 08, 23:50

  crazy money....again!

• a-Lost-9uY

  7 Dec 08, 23:52

  woah!

  52m pounds!

  nuts!

• zocoss

  8 Dec 08, 00:10

  If they don't pay extra big money, the stars won't want to join them cos they are still not seen as a big club.

  I am thinking the first few will have to be extra big money cos this way then they can attract the star players... But once they have a group of star players there, other big star players will not need to think twice when City come knocking... By then, these star players will be hoping City come for them instead as the thought of playing with these other global stars is enough to convince them easily, not to mention the big salary to go along with it too...

  For Valencia, I believe its a good time to sell... Their financial problems just got worse if it wasn't already bad before the global economic crisis... Villa's 27 yrs old, a good time to cash in... Having him at the club sitting around for the next 3 yrs won't do them much good also, so take the $52m... It will go a long way in helping the club.

  My take is this news could very well be true thats why Real probably knew they couldn't out bid City so went for the cheaper option in Huntelaar.

• gunner77

  8 Dec 08, 00:11

  siao

• dragg

  8 Dec 08, 08:56

  its bad for the club, the agent and the player.

  its bad for us.

   

• hmsg

  8 Dec 08, 09:58

  pool should have bought villa instead of keane at 30M pounds....

• Saltiga

  8 Dec 08, 11:01

  its just spell as captial letter S.T.U.P.I.D

• FirePig

  8 Dec 08, 11:03

  probably a flop who will go injured every now and then.

• lifelikedrama

  8 Dec 08, 11:07

  I believe why Villa agreed to go to City is because to him, City is just a stepping stone into EPL. In a year or 2, he would be in 1 of the big 4...

• Saltiga

  8 Dec 08, 11:40

  yes and no to both the above, he might not flop, but still 52m pounds is STUPID, stepping stone is probably not quite the case, its probably just because at 27 and having STUPID ppl willing to coime in with this kinda money just think how much he'll earn weekly???its money money and nothing else

• dragg

  8 Dec 08, 12:18

  its not stupid as far as the owners of city are concerned.

  they have a lot of money to throw.  creating such publicity is exactly what they want.

   

• lolxzxz

  8 Dec 08, 21:09

  wah crazy ah 52m......sometime or later you would be able to buy managers.. HAHA 

• dreamsterjay

  8 Dec 08, 21:13

  lolx... another chelsea on the way!

• limpper

  9 Dec 08, 00:28

  52 times 3 = SGD 156million.
  omg.

• Agenda

  9 Dec 08, 00:36

  chelsea was like a bodybuilder who trains 24/7 and take alot of protein sup.

  mancity is now like a bodybuilder who trains 24/7, takes alot of protein sup, steroids and even have operation to increase muscle tissues.

• zocoss

  9 Dec 08, 09:27

  City in £60m Villa talks

   

  

   

  DAVID VILLA’S agent has flown in for talks about making a £60million move to Manchester City.

  The Spain striker, 27, is a target for many of Europe’s top clubs but City’s billionaire Arab owners are ready to put their cash on the table.

  Sources in Spain say Jose Luis Tamargo, Villa’s agent, met City’s representatives yesterday to discuss a five-year contract worth £150,000-a-week.

  Villa was one of the stars of Spain’s Euro 2008 success. He was the tournament’s top scorer with four goals despite missing the final victory over Germany because of injury.

  The hitman averages more than a goal a game and is currently second top-scorer in La Liga.

  Cash-strapped Valencia may find a bid the size of City’s would be too good to turn down.

   

• iceFatboy

  9 Dec 08, 10:52

  well, we consider it stupid when we compared it to the current buying/selling prices of players. but not to the City owners..

  They want their latest investment, MCity to be successful, and willing to pump $$ in.

  Comparing, imagine, Roman (chelsea) has $1K, and willing to spend $1 to get a player, and we all go "WOW". City Owner, has $100K, and spend $10 to get a player.. Small change to them leh..

• zocoss

  9 Dec 08, 10:57

  Looks like this deal is quite serious as Villa's agent has come all the way to England to meet the City...  

• iceFatboy

  12 Dec 08, 14:05

  now they are serious ->

   

  Man City won't flinch as Buffon seeks £250,000-a-week

  12.12.08 | tribalfootball.com

  Manchester City can sign Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon - if they commit to paying the Italian great £250,000-a-week!

  The Daily Mail says City’s pursuit of the 30-year-old Italian goalkeeper has stalled because he has missed the last month with a groin injury.

  Buffon, however, is still pursuing the transfer and is expected to return to first-team duty with Juventus in the next two weeks. City must then decide whether to advance their interest.

  The deal would include a £20m transfer fee, as well as £13m-a-year in salary for a player who currently earns £90,000 net.

  In a sign of their new wealth, the Premier League club - backed by the vast riches of the Abu Dhabi royal family - have not baulked at the demands.

  City manager Mark Hughes is believed to have endorsed the transfer - on condition Buffon proves his fitness.

  While his new employers may be in a hurry, Hughes has faith in current No 1 Joe Hart and is urging patience.

  Sources in Italy were said to be ‘completely amazed’ that City are prepared to continue with such a vast financial outlay.

  "Juventus are reluctant to sell, but the money is out of this world," said one source.

• youyayu

  12 Dec 08, 23:15

  mancity -> buffon = fake