Villa alert for Eto'o swoop

stuart brennan

July 03, 2009

CITY are keeping a close eye on Barcelona's bid to snap up Spain star David Villa.

The Catalan club's projected purchase of the Valencia ace appears to hold the key to the Blues' hopes of landing Barca's strike ace Samuel Eto'o.

Barca boss Pep Guardiola wants to shift Eto'o out of the club a year before his contract expires - to prevent him walking away for nothing.

But Barca are obliged to publicly claim they want to keep the Cameroon star, otherwise they will trigger a `loyalty' bonus in his contract.

The problem for Barca is that they do not want to forge ahead with the bid for Villa, and an expected move for Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano, without raking in the £25m from the deal they have already agreed with City.

Barca president Joan Laporta has said he wants an amicable solution to the wrangle with their star striker, saying he was `saddened and disappointed' by the fall-out with the player.

But he then did little to mend the rift by declaring agent Josep Maria Mesalles had `not helped negotiations with his attitude'.

"I will do everything possible to find the best solution for the club and for Eto'o. It would be best for both parties," he added.

After accepting a £25m bid from City, Laporta does not want to give a sizeable slice of that money to the player.

But Eto'o is threatening to simply remain for the last year of his deal, and then walk away, with the club receiving nothing.

Meanwhile, City hope to tie up a deal for the Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez early next week.

Premier League rules over third party ownership mean that a deal for the former United striker is not as straightforward.

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wrighty city, city (03/07/2009 at 09:37)

Bring it On!!

Sheikh Rattle 'n' Roll With It, Bury (03/07/2009 at 09:40)

Waiting for a story about City's bid for John Terry, but anyway, here are my thoughts-

Whilst the gutter Press prepare to slag City off again for having the nerve to try and buy John Terry, why don’t the Press first look at things from a National point of view...... what would be so bad about John Terry joining City???

2010 is the year of the World Cup. How many times in the past have England been in Finals only for the Press to point to the fact that players are jaded, etc, etc, giving a perfect excuse for Players when England have been knocked out. We should have a number of Players in the World Cup squad next year, Joe Hart (on loan at Brum), Wayne Bridge, Gareth Barry and SWP. It was also touted that Ned could be in line for an England cap and who knows, Micha Richards may have a storming season. If John Terry joined City, he would have no European football, but at what expense?..... like all the other England Internationals we have, they will have less games next season and they should be fresher than the Wayne Rooneys and Steven Gerrards of this world...... City could be doing England a massive favour next season by not being in Europe!

CTID Block 219 (03/07/2009 at 09:44)

The Eto'o saga will rumble on and on thats for sure, as for Tevez how many times are you going to predict he'll sign, you've given us about ten dates in the last three weeks(it'll be tomorrow, next week, next month etc) are you just going to keep guessing until you get it right. I just wish we'd get a move on and actually sign him then move for a centre half or two... As for the bid for Terry it was always doomed to failure and just gives the City haters (of which there are now many) another stick to beat us with, as we see headlines of "Another star turns Man City down" etc etc... CTID

AlexC83, Manchester (03/07/2009 at 09:44)

Wait a bit for them to try and resolve it, then if it's not settled tell barca we'll pay the sodding loyalty bonus on their behalf! £35m for eto'o would be worth it!

dingdongbell, north (03/07/2009 at 09:57)

i hear city have approached chelsea for john terry-- again!!! why??? they don't want to sell and he does'nt want to come, it's just embarrasing!! we have done everything with dignity regarding the Eto'o offer, and then this with terry!! the papers will love it-- city fail!! again for a world class player!! let's just stick to getting tevez signed, a world class player who we know we have a chance of signing.

CTID

proudtobeblue (03/07/2009 at 09:57)

The comments coming out of Barca give me more confidence that this deal will happen,and that Eto'o will become a City player.

will do everything possible to find the best solution for the club and for Eto'o. It would be best for both parties," he added.

this statement by laporta indicates to me a compromise loyalty payment will be reached to finalise the transfer. things are coming to the boil.

zin zimmer, manchester (03/07/2009 at 10:04)

Been waiting to introduce myself back after the ban...... then I see an article like this.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Zin Zimmer m14 born and dead....... i mean dead.

ps, see you monday carlos

The Colonel, Kippax St (03/07/2009 at 10:05)

To those so easily embarassed by your own club, it is believed that JTs team have been open to the idea of at least listening to City.
Who cares about the press, what's the point in pussy footing round like a shrinking violet with an inferioty complex just so we don't upset the hallowed press!
Time to think big now and start acting it.

bluemoooon (03/07/2009 at 10:11)

Please get Eto`o this will be our best transfer sine Colin Bell and I think it will have a similar effect and the beginning of an era

Gealach Gorm, Galway Ireland (03/07/2009 at 10:11)

HENRY !!!!!not Eto...1/2 the price twice the player!!! No African nations Cup , no self centered silly tantrums , premiership proven come on Hughes it is a no brainer!....even for you.

Blue Duck, Bucks (03/07/2009 at 10:12)

The Eto'o situation could go either way. My hunch is that Barcolona will have to face up to paying Eto'o his slice of the transfer fee. In doing so, they will go back to City and ask us to raise our offer to cover for that. We will (should) tell them to get st**ffed, the deal will be off and the ball will be back in Barcalona's court.

Regarding Tevez, I have no doubt that he will be a City player eventually, but it may take days/weeks for the contract to be signed and Tevez unvailed as a blue. Frustrating, because I reckon personal terms and a gentlemans agreement are in place. We know that the Premier league will want to be all over the contract documents like a rash before they will sanction anything given the existing 3rd party involvements. That means that this transfer will only move as quickly as the Premier league's agenda. They will have no particular motivation to fast track it, infact they will probably be paralysed by fear and paranoia as they look for legal difficulties in the contract that may actually not be there at all. Prepare for an extremely frustrating and drawn out process for this reason. I also expect the media to try and run "Premier League investigate possible illegality in City Tevez deal" headlines whilst the Premier League carry out that due dilligence on the contract. Anything to drag our name through the mud. Hopefully Cooke and Co will waste no time in unleash the legal Rottweilers should there be any attempt to slander our good name in that respect.

Thai High Rollers, Manchester (03/07/2009 at 10:14)

dingdongbell, We went in a January so we would have no need to bid again now if there hadn't been indications by the player or perhaps his agent that he would possibly be interested in coming to Eastlands. The Terry situation isn't over yet imo. Still highly unlikely though.

Eduardo Anton (03/07/2009 at 10:15)

I think that there are more center halfs in europe better than terry, and he dosen't want to leave chelski! So once again we are going to look bad in the press ! I personally don't care what the press write about us along as we get there in the end, so lets trust Mh and Gcook to get it right.

ericcappo (03/07/2009 at 10:20)

dont want terry he will be injured most of the time is to old as for eto he good but i dont think he wants come here lets get the defence sorted not more forwards except tevez i rate him work rate like you seen with kaka its pedegree the real stars want weve got to earn that

Shaun, At My Desk (03/07/2009 at 10:21)

Are we going to get a mention of Owen going to the filth?

wheniwasyoung, gorton (03/07/2009 at 10:28)

Javier Mascherano transfer to liverpool want
with no problems, so wots the big problem
with tevez and the 3rd parties

Pie in the Sky, Manchester (03/07/2009 at 10:28)

How many City fans are there having a chuckle about MU signing Owen? City trying to sign a world class striker for £25-30m and MU signing a crock for £20,000 a week plus bonuses. I've not stopped laughing all morning. Where had all the £80m gone from the Winkers transfer??? RSC or Owen??? Who are they going to sign next?? Dean Ashton??? Lee Bowyer??? Joey Barton????

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....

eternal optimist, san pedro,, spain (03/07/2009 at 10:30)

Although I would LOVE him to sign this is becoming another KAKA affair, and I'm not sure that Mr Cook is the right bod to persue transfers.
Any thoughts on going for Fabiano, more realistic target at this point in our development.
John Terry bid is ambitious to say the least but if we were to go for veloso then that would free up VK for central defence along side Lescott... any thoughts.

Off thread, is anybody else experiencng probs ordering new kit, tranaction keeps getting declined for some reason, plenty of funds.... any suggestions anybody

CTID

Peter Doherty. As good as it gets. (Debt free) , Levenshulme (03/07/2009 at 10:36)

Fabiano.

zin zimmer, manchester (03/07/2009 at 10:37)

Blue Duck, Bucks
3/07/2009 at 10:12

Premier League carry out that due dilligence on the contract....

Thats right i'm back and will be going straight for the jugular on tool bags such as this.

Zin Zimmer m14 born and bred......... can I get a rewind

proudtobeblue (03/07/2009 at 10:38)

the colonel,kippax.....agree totally mate...its time City came out and showed that we are not afraid to put bids in for ANY player on the planet,no-one is beyond our reach financially,and you know the old saying "if you don't ask you don't get" there is no embarrassment at putting bids in for these players,if the clubs turn us down flat then its not a snub to City. City are proffesionally run now,and there is no way they would put a bid in for a player without putting the feelers out regarding the players interest in joining first. we are muscling our way into the party, looking for a place at the top table,and teams are starting to accept that not to far away we WILL be amongst the elite,so it is better to accept that now and welcome us rather than fight it.

twitter.com/mancityalerts MCFC Twitter (03/07/2009 at 10:40)

We're already putting the fear into Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. It's inevitable we will get the top players and utlimately break the top four :-)
...Sheikh Ya Money Blues!

Andrew Shaw (03/07/2009 at 10:40)

Bit like the Italians, we have now reached the point where the Barca president is using ambiguous double speak when he claims he wants a resolution that is satisfactory for both the club and the player. That means he can hide behind his new contract offer and if Etoo won't budge he can blame the player. If he signs, then they have him for another two years and he can say he did great business cos he got the player on the same deal. When we know he really means that he wants him out, doesn't want to pay a golden goodbye and needs the money up front from us to go for Mascherano and Villa. The three likely outcomes are none of these three scenarios. Etoo will either sign for us and Laporta will have caved in to his demands for a pay off. Or we will walk away from the deal because Laporta's brink manship is taking too long. Or Etoo will decide to stay for 12 months and walk on a free next year effectively stymying Laporta's potential forays in to the transfer market. In the end, Laporta either stumps up and puts up or accepts that he ain't getting Villa and Mascherano but will retain the services of Etoo, even if he does not want him for at least a season but takes the £25M hit cos the players walks for free next summer. Laporta will hold out as long as possible, but if I was him, I'd take the money, pay the player and stop griping!

manchester city (03/07/2009 at 10:48)

dingdongbell, north
3/07/2009 at 09:57

how is it embarrassing how do you no hes not interested in the move alls he needs to do uis request for a move and he will come do you no what goes on in terrys camp i think not so shut up and see what happens.

Gary (03/07/2009 at 10:51)

AGUREO is the man we should be signing

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