Robinho can go if Inter release Balotelli

Mike Whalley

July 19, 2010

Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli’s chances of joining Manchester City’s new all-star team are growing with wantaway Robinho the bait for Inter Milan.

Inter’s new boss Rafa Benitez and owner Massimo Moratti are considering a plan which would see the Brazilian move to the San Siro in a part-exchange deal.

Blues boss Roberto Mancini has already indicated that he would be interested in buying 19-year-old striker Balotelli.

Moratti has indicated that a deal could be done for the teenager, nicknamed Super Mario, if the price was right.

Robinho, who has two years to run on his City contract, has flourished during a six-month stint at Brazilian club Santos, and has indicated that he would like to stay there when that loan deal runs out on August 4.

Santos, however, cannot come close to matching the Brazilian’s City wages of around £130,000 a week, leaving a move to Europe the likeliest option.

Barcelona’s interest in the 26-year-old has cooled despite a better than expected World Cup, but Turkish club Besiktas and Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk have both expressed an interest while Inter’s rivals AC Milan are also understood to have been tracking him.

Mancini is still keen to add to his squad, having signed Jerome Boateng, Yaya Toure and David Silva, and is in the process of finalising the £16m deal for Lazio’s Serbian left-back Aleksandar Kolarov.

A move for Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko is still a possibility – but only if his German club Wolfsburg are prepared to drop their £45m asking price.

Another potential target, Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has indicated that he will be staying at Barcelona.

Mancini is also ready to start offloading players, with Craig Bellamy’s City future in the balance following Silva’s arrival from Valencia, and Stephen Ireland attracting Sunderland’s interest.

Should City go for Mario Balotelli? Have your say.

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micheal ok, The Emerald Isle,surrounded by BLUE water. (19/07/2010 at 08:56)

send robinho to inter and ireland to lazio,problem solved :D

CTID

reido, perth australia (19/07/2010 at 08:56)

keep both bellers and ireland , ireland can only better himself with class around him and bellers what can you say !

Rosler's dirty trainers., Sankeys Soaps (19/07/2010 at 08:57)

It wouls be an absolute crime if Stevie Ireland was demoted to playing in the Sunderland midfield!

blueballs (19/07/2010 at 09:06)

I assume the part exchange would involve City getting cash + player and inter only getting the player.

black and blue, manchester, where else? (19/07/2010 at 09:09)

Please do not sell bellars to spuds and keep ireland for one more season

Evan Georgiou (19/07/2010 at 09:14)

One comment-why do the press actually fiddle around when quoting people's salaries....why can't they just be accurate or report zero.....I have always read that Robi earns 160k per week....now I read 130k per week....it makes a huge difference especially when the press are now saying Yaya earns 220k per week and Silva earns 160k per week.....as a fan I want to know that the best earners in my City team are in fact the best performers.....therefore if Tev's earns more than the rest I would understand....they should be paid according to their performances....I don't understand how Harry can pull out of the Joe Cole deal because of his wage demands of 90k per week when he apparently can afford our Bellers who earns that much.....too much rubbish is written in the press on salaries......either way ,I would like Bellers and Superman to stay.....forza Mancini

silva socks, middleton (19/07/2010 at 09:16)

i think this would be a good deal for city

OBJohn, London (19/07/2010 at 09:17)

Don't know. Seems a vastly inflated price for a moody 19 year old, and if he's as good as Inter are trying to make out, why are they even contemplating offloading him? A few alarm bells ringing for me, and in all honesty if I thought Robi could bring his Brazil form to City I'd rather keep him than buy Ballotelli......alas though we all know he won't. Any Serie A watchers let us know how good they think Balotelli is or can be?

Alf (19/07/2010 at 09:17)

Italian Forwards have seldom prospered in the Prem. Having said that if Robinho is shipped out as part of the deal then it can't do any harm. Mancini knows him and must feel his temperement can be handled ok. He looks a strong guy who is perhaps better built to suit the Prem so on balance why not go for it?

The Chief (19/07/2010 at 09:19)

I would have liked to see a deal done for Dzeko, but if Wolfsburg are playing hardball then fair play to them, that's their right. He would have offered us another good alternative up front though.

Asfor Balotelli, I have some reservations about him regarding discipline in particular, but he's young and still learnin. Mancini must have a high level of confidence in his talent to pursue him as relentlessly as he has done and obviously believes he can manage the boy effectively.

It's a shame that any possible deal hinges on Robinho - it's unlike him to be co-operative with City.

bubba, cleethorpes (19/07/2010 at 09:34)

Well it looks like we have been taken in by Moratti. 400m Euro black hole in the Clubs finances despite winning everything. The Inter fans are not keen, Mourhino wasnt impressed, and Moratti has been desperate (despite his media utterings) to get rid. Is the problematic Balotelli any good ? I dont think so, but looks like were about to find out. Pity the Kolarov deal seems to have stalled. Pip.. Pip..

"CityLady" , Hermanus, South Africa (19/07/2010 at 09:35)

I think a lot of good can come out of a straight swap, firstly we'd get a player young and hungry for success and secondly be letting a player who heart is not with our club and only seems to perform when it suits. Like I have said before, Robi is a sunshine footballer and playing in Portsmouth or Sunderland on a cold December day is not for him. I think in the long term we would gain so much from a deal with Inter, as they would get a player capable and just as Prima donna as the rest of the Inter side. We would on the other hand get a player that for me, would be well suited to the EPL and can see him being very successful here. We have now began to show we mean business in the transfer market and really what would we lose out of a straight swap deal. we wouldn't get more than 20 mil for Robi, so for me it's a fair price. So just send him packing and bring in the new boy and let us begin what we surely are destined to be " WINNERS "again!

Dave Kinkladze, Worsley (19/07/2010 at 09:40)

I don't want Ibrahimovic, everything I've seen and read about him spells trouble. I can't imagine him being the catalyst to a thumping recovery if we're 1-0 down in a monsoon at Bloomfield Park, so Barcelona are more than welcome to him.

I have to say sadly that it wouldn't be the end of the world if Stevie Ireland was jetissoned, same reason I wouldn't want Ibrahimovic, a malcontent and if you've any doubts as to his character, remember that stunt he pulled over the phantom dead Granny to get himself out of international duty. Sunderland might be more fitting to his mardy temperament.

MEN could have done with getting the finer details of this story straight - if of course it's anything more than the usual wild speculation - if it's right then I would hope that it really is just a straight swap - otherwise a £32m player plus cash for a teenager, however good he is seems a little over the top even by City's standards.

George Roper (19/07/2010 at 09:43)

There's a lot of hype around Balotelli being moody etc but his behaviour only really seemed to change when Mourinho arrived. Under Mancini and with his support Balotelli thrived and is still considered to be one of the best young players in Italy. The kind of racism he has had to suffer has been appalling and it must be hard for a young kid to handle the pressure. I would love to see him at City and believe that with Mancini's help he will be a star at City. Still like to see Dzeko to provide some competition to Adebayor and we do need someone who is good in the air.

Phil Neal's Laxative, Somewhere in Baden (19/07/2010 at 09:44)

A bit risky this. He seems to have something of the Anelka about him. Goal machine yes, but team player? Let's hope Mancini gets this one right.

Shaun Goaters left foot, Manchester (19/07/2010 at 09:45)

Keep Stevie and Bellers, get rid of Robbie.

mrcakey (19/07/2010 at 09:51)

PART exchange? A world class Brazilian forward for a petulant and relatively unproven 19-year-old? The world is laughing at us.

citypedro, manchester (19/07/2010 at 09:52)

Could be a case of one trouble making spoilt brat out in Robinho, being replaced by another one in Balotelli. There again, Mancini has worked with him before and if he can handle him, it could deliver a real diamond.

Tevez is the man......... (19/07/2010 at 09:53)

Give us an hour...I will start the plane and go and take him myself.....and bring the other one back to Manchester....dead easy

Ewesy, Workington (19/07/2010 at 09:53)

There are similarities with Balotteli and Jo - both very young and overpriced!

We are buying potential not proven class so there is a risk here - however, when Jo arrived he went straight into the first team which was too much too sson. The squad we have now would allow the manager to choose how and when to play Balotteli. If we can lose Robbi who clearly doesnt want to play for us again in the process well so be it.

We need to trust the managers judgment - but like most comments would love to add Dzeko - keep Bellars and Ireland, there are others in the squad and on loan elsewhere who should leave first

sheikh, prattle and droll (19/07/2010 at 09:55)

Funny how City fans want to keep hold of Bellamy and Ireland. Not because they are better players than their highly-expensive replacements. Ireland case especially is symbolic - a link to the real Man City, a proper club not a rich man's toy.

There is no doubt you will win something, probably this season. But will it feel as good as the anticipation? Unlikely. There was nothing like 95-96...

Congrats on your many signings. It's just like Championship Manager; a game being played by one person.. until he gets bored and wants to play a different one. Enjoy the ride, while it lasts.

"CityLady" , Hermanus, South Africa (19/07/2010 at 10:10)

mrcakey (19/07/2010 at 09:51)

PART exchange? A world class Brazilian forward for a petulant and relatively unproven 19-year-old? The world is laughing at us

Would the world be laughing at us if he came and was a huge hit scoring 20+ goals in his first season and going off what we saw from Robi in his final 10 months with us, continued that with Inter I think the world would say what a great bit of shrewd business Man city pulled off. So before a ball is kicked you've made it out like it's a terrible choice to make. I personally think Mancini will get more from the young lad than he ever could with Robi as Robi's ego is way bigger than any player known to have dawned the beautiful blue strip! Where as the young lad is still finding his feet and will learn with experience that team is the vital word.

BlueIsTheColour, West Didsbury (19/07/2010 at 10:13)

Last week Robbie was the 'makeweight' in a move for Ibrahimovic!!

This is just another 'non-story!'

It's been mentioned on other threads that most would love to see Robbie flourishing in a Blue shirt, but it's not going to happen. City want to get as much for him as possible & we all know that he will be off. It just remains to be seem who will stump up the most!

Every player City are linked with is valued at £stupid millions, but then when clubs ask about our players, they run a mile when we value them at more than a couple of million!! ( esp. that cheeky spiv 'arry!!)

Anyway, this won't happen & neither will most of the other barmy deals being mentioned!
Next week we'll here a report that Robbie has been seen at a VW car showroom & everyone will put 2 & 2 together....!!!!

CTID

big blumer, sydney (19/07/2010 at 10:14)

from what ive seen of super mario balotelli he certainly looks like an awesome talent and despite the stories about his attitude mancini is clearly in the best position to judge if he would be a good signing having nurtured his talents and bought him through at inter..............

more importantly balotelli's "attitude" problems have never been about his effort on the pitch more about a penchant for having a strop - bellamy anyone..........balotelli has openly called roberto "a great friend" so maybe it'd be a good move for all parties..........

as for the "no itallian striker makes it in the prem" argument it might be worth pointing out that essentially balotelli is only itallian on his passport - he is an african adopted by itallians and, in my opinon, perfectly built for the prem. he is 6ft 3, strong and quick and extremely technically gifted.............

trust bobby at the end of the day, it'd be a coup if we got him in my book, he could become world class in the next couple of seasons.............

p.s. WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED TO THE KOLAROV DEAL?????????

kevin cairns, morecambe (19/07/2010 at 10:14)

Roberto Mancini has been the manager of Inter Milan,so Manchester City fans should trust his judgement,I would let Robinho/Jo go if he is not prepared to work hard for himself and the team.

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