Outside of our Community Shield opponents Chelsea, cagey caution is dictating proceedings in the transfer window. City gaffer Roberto Mancini has revealed his frustration from China…
Ahead of today’s pre-season joust with The Arsenal in Beijing, Mancio, when questioned over the possibility of signing another key Arsenal player in Robin Van Persie went public over his wish to see The Champions realising speedily the fine tuning he called for at the end of last season:
‘I am not in charge of this. It is important because, after what we did last year, we must continue to win. This year will be harder than last, so we need to improve our team. We have a man who works for this and we hope that he can do a good job.’
That’ll undoubtedly be Brian Marwood he’s referring to, City’s Football Administration Officer who handles the negotiations over Mancio’s targets. It’s widely accepted that City’s increasingly reserved transfer stance is fuelled by the need to offload the likes of Mark Hughes signings the big earning Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz before bringing in the players needed to bolster an already impressively fused squad.
Of Van Persie, opinions appear to be 50-50 across Planet Blue over the Arsenal talisman who turns 29 years old next month. Is he really needed by a side boasting four proven front line hotshots who are all younger than him?
According to reports out of Italy today, Juventus are getting cold feet over Van Persie’s wish to leave London. This could leave the player and indeed Arsenal left with a straight choice of doing business with City or an increasingly desperate Stretford. Don’t rule out Taggart kidknapping the Gooners wantaway striker at Ringway as he did Dimitar Berbaflop four years back!
UPCOMING GAMES:
all times East Manchester
TODAY 13h00 Arsenal, Birds Nest Stadium, Beijing, Friendly (ESPN TV)
Mon 30 Jul 13h45 Malaysia Select XI, Kuala Lumpur, Friendly (ESPN TV)
Tue 31 Jul 19h45 Oldham Athletic, Boundary Park, Friendly
Sat 04 Aug 20h30 Wolfsburg, Volkswagen Arena, Friendly (ESPN TV)
Sun 05 Aug 19h00 Limerick, Jackman Park, Friendly
Sun 12 Aug 13h30 Chelsea, Villa Park, Community Shield
Sa 18 Aug 15h00 Southampton, The Etihad PL
Sa 25 Aug 15h00 Liverpool, Anfield PL
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES:
The draw for the 2012/13 Champions League Group Stage will take place in Monaco on Thursday, 30th August. The opening round of games will kick off in the week commencing Monday, 17th September.
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