Sandro Rosell slams Manchester City for trying to lure Barcelona staff

Posted on January 15, 2013 by adminsports

Barca warning for Man City over luring stars: They want to fish here but there are no fish left!

By
Andy James

PUBLISHED:

11:42 GMT, 15 January 2013

UPDATED:

11:47 GMT, 15 January 2013

Offended: Sandro Rosell slammed Manchester City

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has claimed Manchester City have tried to lure a number of people to the Etihad Stadium from the Nou Camp.

Rosell says the Barclays Premier League champions have not only tried to sign players from all levels of the club's structure, but also other employees of the Catalan giants.

Former Barcelona directors Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain are now at City as chief executive and director of football respectively.

Rosell, speaking to RAC1 and quoted
in Marca, said: 'There have been some offensive approaches from City, at
all levels of the structure of the club, but no one wants to go.

'They wanted to fish here, but there
were no fish left. We're talking about people at all levels of the Barca
structure, not just players. Their attempts have been unsuccessful,
though, as our employees are happy here.

Star of the show: Lionel Messi is Barca's prized asset

City slickers: Txiki Begiristain (left) and Ferran Soriano left Barca for the Etihad

'There have been contacts, but we have a fantastic group of people and nobody wants to go.'

He added: 'I had hoped that he (Begiristain) would not use the information he gathered about Barcelona during his time here to help another club become bigger, but he seems to disagree with me.

'I would like it if the relationship between both clubs was a bit better and more transparent.'

Mario Balotelli is a secret Santa as Manchester City star treats young fans… sadly, there"s no blue and white hat

Posted on December 20, 2012 by adminsports

Balotelli is a secret Santa as Man City star treats young fans… sadly, there's no blue and white hat

UPDATED:

18:51 GMT, 20 December 2012

Mario Balotelli finally got to play
Father Christmas when local youngsters were given the surprise of a
lifetime during a tour of the Etihad Stadium.

Last Christmas the Manchester City striker was at the centre of internet gossip he had been spotted handing out 20 notes to passers-by in Manchester dressed in a blue and white Santa hat.

Festive cheer: Mario Balotelli handed out presents to kids (not sure about his Santa outfit)

mario balotelli

Sadly the Santa story appeared to be another wild rumour about the mad-cap Italian, who insisted he was in the team hotel at the time.

But there was no mistaking Balotelli when he handed out presents to football-mad 11 and 12-year-olds from Mellands Specialist School in Gorton.

The youngsters also got to lift the Premier League trophy and got changed in the first team dressing room.

stadium visit

City slickers: The football-mad youngsters got to meet their heroes

James Milner with Premier League trophy

man city fan

After being met by the regular tour guides the children bumped into defender Micah Richards as they got out of the lift on the way to the Press Conference room and then heard their names read out on the team sheet left by Roberto Mancini.

They then met another England star, midfielder James Milner, who had the silverware with him before the party entered the inner sanctum of the home dressing room where shirts bearing their names were hanging on the pegs used by the City superstars.

Watch the video

The surprises didn't end there though as Santa Balotelli popped in to distribute presents and then the whole afternoon concluded with a penalty shoot-out against England No 1 Joe Hart and photos all around.

'It was great to see the joy on the kids' faces,' said Richards. 'They were so excited. The plan was to make the day as memorable as possible for them and I am sure they enjoyed it. As players you don't often get the chance to interact like that.

'It was all for the young children,' added Balotelli. 'They really appreciated meeting all the players and we appreciated meeting them too. I hope we made their day and gave them an afternoon they will never forget. We all enjoyed it.'

Rio Ferdinand, Robin van Persie, Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott at X-Factor final

Posted on December 10, 2012 by adminsports

Rio's got the X-Factor! Ferdinand sports cut eyebrow as host of footballers attend talent show finale in Manchester

UPDATED:

13:33 GMT, 10 December 2012

You wouldn't blame Rio Ferdinand for wanting to let his hair down in the wake of the tempestuous Manchester derby which ended with him sporting a nasty cut above his eye.

The Manchester United defender joined a number of team-mates at the X-Factor final along with 10,000 fans at Manchester Central for the grand finale of the talent show on Sunday evening.

Hart of the matter: The Man City keeper and United striker watched the final together

All right on the night: Ferdinand and Hart arrived, just hours after the dramatic conclusion of thr Manchester derby

All right on the night: Ferdinand and Hart arrived, just hours after the dramatic conclusion of the derby

Flashpoint: Hart intervenes as a City supporter approaches Ferdinand

Ferdinand bore the scars the thrilling encounter at the Etihad Stadium which was marred by a fan throwing a coin at Ferdinand which struck him just above the eye which left a painful scar.

And City goalkeeper Joe Hart had to
intervene after one supporter ran on to the pitch to confront Ferdinand
in the wake of Robin van Persie's late winner sealed a remarkable
afternoon in the Barclays Premier League.

City slickers: Lescott and Barry were also in attendance at the events in Manchester

But he looked relaxed and calm as he
posed for photographs with fans and was happy to smile and chat with
other celebs as arrived.

Stars from both Manchester clubs were in
attendance with Jonny Evans, Tom Cleverley, Ferdico Macheda, Joe Hart,
Joleon Lecott and Van Persie being snapped leaving the event.

All smiles: Van Persie made an appearance, as did Tom Cleverley with his better half

All smiles: Van Persie made an appearance, as did Tom Cleverley with his better half Georgina Dorsett

Arsenal tour: Olympics still popular in Beijing four years on

Posted on July 27, 2012 by adminsports

On the road…. with Arsenal: Olympics still the hot topic in Beijing four years on

UPDATED:

14:47 GMT, 27 July 2012

Fantasy football 2012

Occasionally in this job you feel like you're in the wrong place but rarely has it been quite this bad.

It’s the Olympic Stadium, on the day of the Opening Ceremony, expect Beijing was four years ago.

The Chinese seem amused. The taxi driver seemed utterly baffled that an Englishman might want a ride to the Bird’s Nest on the day the Games begin in London.

City slickers: Yaya Toure helped the champions to a convincing win over Arsenal in Beijing

'Where you from'

'England.'

'London'

'Not far away.'

'Olympic Games.'

'Yes, I know.'

Snigger.

He wasn’t the first, either. The Chinese adore the Olympics, the sports pages of the papers are jammed with swimmers and divers and gymnasts, but most of Beijing seem oblivious to a friendly between the teams who finished first and third in last season’s Barclays Premier League.

Hundreds of local Arsenal fans have attended events here in the last 48 hours and perhaps 2,000 watched them train on the eve of the game.

Cheer we go: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain receives a rapturous reception from the fans inside the Bird's Nest

But this is a large city and the Bird’s Nest – still an impressive and iconic sight – is a large arena to fill. It holds 80,000, though the safety regulations set the capacity far lower they were not under any threat.

Supporters were scattered sparsely around the three tiers. Those who do support English football out here love their teams. And they are highly skilled at generating noise.

Arsenal clearly have the edge on Manchester City in that regard – Mike Summerbee was jeered as he paraded the Premier League trophy before the game – but the champions are making some progress.

Outside the stadium, there was reasonable demand for 'Why Always Me' shirts and one fan wearing a City shirt (which sparked extreme whistling from the red-shirted majority) was physically ejected from the stands during an Arsenal training session, to the embarrassment of club officials who did their best to reverse the decision.

All smiles: One lucky supporter holds Oxlade-Chamberlain's boot after the England star threw it into the crowd

Unfortunately, the Chinese security forces are an unforgiving lot. It was like a scene featuring Cato from the old Pink Panther films as Marouane Chamakh (seemingly, the subject of marriage proposals wherever he appears) tried to leave a Fan Party through an underground network of corridors at a city hotel.

From around each blind turn leapt a different fan, thrusting something to be signed in his direction, or trying to grab him around the shoulder for a matey photo.

Chamakh tried his best to oblige without encouraging a stampede but the heavy-handed security forces waded in to knock the supporters aside.

The Arsenal striker winced and quickened his search for the exit. Not unlike Robin van Persie.

Jackie Chan joins Manchester City in Beijing

Posted on July 26, 2012 by adminsports

City Rush Hour: Martial arts hero Jackie Chan joins champions on tour of China

UPDATED:

08:15 GMT, 26 July 2012

Fantasy football 2012

Aston Villa may have Tom Hanks but Manchester City can now boast martial arts hero Jackie Chan among their A-list celebrity fan base.

Roberto Mancini and his Barclays Premier League title winners presented the Rush Hour actor with a signed shirt printed with 'Champions 12' on the back.

City slickers: Actor Jackie Chan holds the title after the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure, Adam Johnson and Vincent Kompany greeted him in Beijing

Fan-tastic: Chan poses with his signed shirt from the champions

Chan confessed follow the likes of Liam
Gallagher and Ricky Hatton and support the champions after lifting the
title aloft in Beijing, where City prepare to take on Arsenal on Friday
at the Bird's Nest Stadium.

'You can tell how much pain, blood and tears it has taken to lift the trophy,' said the 58-year-old movie favourite, who was greeted by the likes of captain Vincent Kompany, midfielder Yaya Toure and winger Adam Johnson.

'It really is something, 44 years [since last winning the league] is a long time.

'From now on, yes [I am a fan].

'When I was young, I was a fan of a football team.

'Sometimes I support Hong Kong, sometimes England, but from now on, because of my friends I will support Manchester City.'

Chan also hailed City for travelling to the Far East on their pre-season tour, hoping their presence will inspire a generation to take up the beautiful game.

'We want to thank Manchester City for coming to China.

'I believe there’s a billion fans and they have given us the chance to learn about football.

.I really hope the young children go and play because it is good for their health.'

The craziest year the Barclays Premier League has ever seen

Posted on May 15, 2012 by adminsports

A season of SHOCK and AWE! The craziest year football has ever seen

UPDATED:

00:54 GMT, 15 May 2012

There have been times this season when even the words of Sir Alex Ferguson have seemed inadequate. 'Football, bloody hell' is a succinct and memorable quotation, but certain moments have demanded an injection of something more industrial.

It was, as Roberto Mancini said, a crazy end to a crazy season; certainly the closest this observer has come to reliving that moment in 1999 when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored his stoppage-time goal in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

On that night, my colleague, Martin Samuel, was asking the office in London if they intended to hold the edition until the completion of extra time. A few four-letter expletives later and he was informing them we would file our rewrites as fast as we possibly could.

City slickers: Sergio Aguero was the scorer of the goal that clinched City's first title for 44 years

To be among those who witnessed Sergio Aguero's goal against QPR 93 minutes and 20 seconds into one of the most nerve-shredding football matches we have seen was a privilege. To be so close to those Manchester City supporters, understandably anxious before the game and in bits by the time the fourth official indicated there would be five further minutes thanks to the lunacy of Joey Barton, was a memory to savour.

It was the sheer power of the celebration, the intoxicating mixture of ecstasy and relief. Quite how the back of one particular plastic seat sprang back into shape after four or five thick-set guys piled on top of one another and turned it briefly into a collapsed deck chair defied physics.

Time and again this season, English football has simply stopped us in our tracks, on and off the pitch. When Mancini declared in Munich that Carlos Tevez would never play for City again. When the Luis Suarez and John Terry racism rows exploded amid claim and bitter counter-claim. When City beat United 6-1 at Old Trafford and when a Wigan side who somehow won seven of their last nine Barclays Premier League matches conquered United at the DW Stadium.

Race row: John Terry is awaiting trial over claims he racially abused Anton Ferdinand as the pair clashed at Loftus Road

Taxing time: A relieved Harry Redknapp talks to the media after being cleared at Southwark Crown Court of tax evasion charges

Taxing time: A relieved Harry Redknapp talks to the media after
being cleared at Southwark Crown
Court of tax evasion charges

It was the delight and disbelief on the
weathered faces of the old boys who sit directly in front of the press
box – just brilliant. There was an insane day at London Bridge in
February – the torturous few seconds before the jury delivered the 'not
guilty' verdict to Harry Redknapp in Southwark Crown Court followed by
the news that Fabio Capello and the Football Association had indeed
agreed to part company.

In the cafe that had become a second home for the football reporters covering every day of the Redknapp tax trial, an already massive story took on even greater significance. We thought it had, anyway.

Nothing moved and terrified us more than those live television pictures of Fabrice Muamba fighting for his life on the pitch at White Hart Lane. Football united around Muamba and the sight of him hugging Robin van Persie at the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year dinner 12 days ago was wonderful.

We have seen the best and worst of English football this season. Liverpool's handling of the Suarez-Evra affair was deplorable, Kenny Dalglish misjudging the situation as badly as Capello did the FA's handling of Terry and the England captaincy.

Take a seat: Carlos Tevez stays seated on the City substitutes bench in Munich despite being asked to warm up by boss Roberto Mancini

They got it so wrong and the reaction
of some Liverpool and Chelsea fans succeeded only in demonstrating
that, for all the progress made in the fight against racism, there is
much work to be done.

Andre Villas-Boas' blind loyalty to
Terry was also deeply disappointing when the truth about what happened
at Loftus Road in October first needs to be established by a magistrate
in Westminster. All Villas-Boas succeeded in doing was inciting more
hatred towards Anton Ferdinand when the QPR defender was not even
responsible for making the original complaint to the Metropolitan Police.

Standing by Terry did Villas-Boas no good when it came to saving his job, but in his absence another managerial star has emerged alongside Alan Pardew, Brendan Rodgers, Roberto Martinez and Paul Lambert.

Blue is the colour: Interim Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo (above left) and Eddie Newton hug as Chelsea beat Barcelona in the Champions League

Blue is the colour: Interim Chelsea
manager Roberto Di Matteo (above left) and Eddie Newton hug as Chelsea beat Barcelona in the
Champions League

Whatever happens in Munich, nobody can take the achievements at Wembley and the Nou Camp away from Roberto Di Matteo. Against Barcelona he masterminded one of the finest victories in Champions League history on another astonishing night when you needed to take a step back in an effort to comprehend what had just occurred.

'Every day is Christmas Day,' said Tony Pulis in December, but it hasn't felt like that for everyone. Not Steve Kean, who has needed a bodyguard just to get to and from the Blackburn training ground. But the football, and in particular the 380 matches that amount to the finest of the 20 seasons of the Premier League, has been terrific.

We have never seen more goals – 1,066 in all – and for the 12 million spectators who passed through the turnstiles, and the billions more who have watched around the world on television, there have been some belters.

Papiss Cisse is credited with the most stunning of the lot, even if this observer would have gone with Peter Crouch.

The best game It is difficult to separate City's win at United and the 10 men of Chelsea in Barcelona. Let's just credit one as the most memorable in England and the other in Europe. Nothing, however, was more surreal than seeing Liam Gallagher in the press room at the Etihad after City defeated United for a second time in the league on April 30.

That night City proved themselves the best team in the country; a team built on the quality of players like Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero. Super players in a superb squad guided skilfully to the club's first title in 44 years by Mancini.

'Vive le Belgian,' declared Gallagher as he raised his bottle of beer to Kompany, the City captain and goalscorer that night.

Today there should be a new toast. 'Vive le Premier League.' Absolutely bloody amazing.

Premonition: Artist Paul Trevillions take on things in Sportsmail's season preview on August 8, 2011

Premonition: Artist Paul Trevillion's take on things in Sportsmail's season preview on August 8, 2011

Day of destiny for Manchester City

Posted on May 6, 2012 by adminsports

Day of destiny for City's Sky Blues! Just do what you did 44 years ago

UPDATED:

00:19 GMT, 6 May 2012

It might not be a case of history exactly repeating itself as Manchester City head to Tyneside on Sunday knowing that they must win if they are to end their long wait to become champions. But run the clock back 44 years and up pops a scenario that is so similar to the current situation that they can start tying the sky blue and white ribbons on the Premier League trophy now.

On May 11, 1968, City and champions Manchester United were level on points as the final day dawned on what had been a fluctuating title race. But City had a significantly better goal average and they knew that if they could beat a formidable Newcastle United at St James’ Park the crown was theirs, no matter what United did at home against mid-table Sunderland.

City slickers: Francis Lee celebrates his goal at St James' Park

MATCH FACTS

Saturday 11 May 1968

Newcastle 3 Manchester City 4

Newcastle: McFaul; Craig, Clark, Moncur, McNamee, Iley, Sinclair, Scott, Davies, B. Robson, T.Robson.

Man City: Mulhearn; Book, Pardoe, Doyle, Heslop, Oakes, Lee, Bell, Summerbee, Young, Coleman.

Manchester Utd 1 Sunderland 2

Man Utd: Stepney; Brennan, Dunne, Crerand, Foulkes, Stiles, Best, Kidd, Charlton, Sadler, Aston

Sunderland: Montgomery; Harvey, Hurley, Todd, Ashurst, Porterfield, Harris, Herd, Stuckey, Suggett, Mulhall.

The coincidence is uncanny, and even
Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson acknowledges that City will be as
good as champions if they pass today’s tough test even though there will
still be one round of fixtures to play next Sunday.

The date with destiny at Newcastle
has triggered all sorts of memories for one of the City legends from
that unforgettable day 44 years ago, Mike Summerbee.

The former England winger, now a club
ambassador at the Etihad Stadium, is as excited as any City fan about
the club’s current position and bases his confidence for a similar
outcome this afternoon on what happened back in 1968, when they ended a
31-year wait for the title.

He said: ‘There’s nothing about that
game I don’t remember. And the coincidences with today are remarkable,
apart from the fact that there will still be one game left. We’re going
to Newcastle and United are at home to Swansea, a team whose name starts
with an “S”!

Champagne movement: The City team enjoy their league title success in the dressing room

‘We went there with a lot of optimism
because the confidence in the dressing room couldn’t have been higher.
We were on a bit of a roll after beating the likes of Everton and Spurs
and our fans were as confident as we were.’

It is estimated that there were
20,000 fanatical City supporters in a 46,500 crowd that day. And they
sang all the way home to Manchester after a thrilling 4-3 victory that
was as dramatic as the entire season had been.

Summerbee added: ‘The atmosphere in
the ground was amazing. There was no segregation at all, City fans sat
and stood alongside Newcastle fans all over the ground. There were even
people sat on the cinder track around the perimeter.

Pure joy: The Manchester City fans invade the pitch at St James Park as they win the title

‘There wasn’t a hint of trouble and, I
can tell you, I know great friendships were forged on that day. The
game matched the atmosphere, a full-blooded clash between two totally
committed teams but we were determined not to lose it.’

An early Summerbee goal raised the
temperature – and the decibels – to an even higher level. But
Newcastle’s ‘Pop’ Robson lived up to his name by grabbing an immediate
equaliser. Neil Young then restored the City advantage only for Jackie
Sinclair to level again before half-time.

‘I had managed to finish off a great
move,’ said Summerbee, ‘but we just couldn’t hold on to our lead. When
we went in at half-time our coach Malcolm Allison just said, “C’mon
lads. Let’s tighten up. Let’s make it happen”.

Celebration time: George Heslop (left) and Colin Bell celebrate in the changing room after the Manchester City victory

‘And that’s just what we did. Youngy
got a third and when Francis [Lee] gave us a two-goal advantage, we were
never going to lose, although Newcastle did manage to pull one back.’

As it turned out, the result was
academic because, despite a George Best goal, United lost 2-1 to
Sunderland in front of 63,000 Old Trafford fans.

But nothing can erase the magic of the moment for Summerbee. ‘There will be a lot of memories flooding back on Sunday,’ he said.

Making a save: Jim Montgomery takes the ball from the feet of Manchester United's Brian Kidd

‘Since that day we’ve lost three
great lads in Mike Doyle, who was a colossus for us that day, George
Heslop and, of course, Neil Young, whose two goals made it possible.

‘I’m an emotional man and I know the spirits of those three guys will be with the team this time.

‘I know it won’t be easy, especially
after Newcastle’s result at Chelsea, but the lads will be up for it as
much as we were. I just hope we can repeat the victory we won on that
day.’

Taking the Mick: City's Mick Summerbee clips the ball home

Adam Johnson wears a skirt as Manchester City stars hit catwalk at Fashion Kicks

Posted on May 2, 2012 by adminsports

City celebrate derby win on the catwalk… (and Johnson even wears a skirt!)

UPDATED:

10:13 GMT, 2 May 2012

Manchester City's stars celebrated their vital derby win over bitter rivals Manchester United by strutting their stuff down the catwalk at a charity event on Tuesday night.

City skipper and Monday night's match-winner Vincent Kompany – as well as team-mates Kolo Toure and Gareth Barry – could be seen modelling at the Fashion Kicks event at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, hosted by former Blues goalkeeper Shay Given and his wife, Jane.

Keeping up appearances: City captain Kompany (left) with his wife Carla, and Shay Given (right) and his wife Jane

Keeping up appearances: Kompany (left) with his wife Carla, and Shay Given (right) and his wife Jane

Pole position: Kompany celebrates scoring the winner on Monday night

But it was City and England winger Adam Johnson who raised the most eyebrows, sporting a Vivienne Westwood 'man-skirt' at the annual football and fashion charity extravaganza.

And he unashamedly told Manchester Evening News: 'I just love doing the catwalk, I’m really keen on it and I’m just happy to be involved for Shay.

'Man-skirt': Johnson (left) donned a Vivienne Westwood number, while Joe Hart (right) poses with his wife Kym

'It’s absolutely brilliant for us all to come and let our hair down tonight at such a fantastic charity event after such a good result in the derby.'

One player not taking to the catwalk was City and England No 1 Joe Hart, who picked up an ankle knock against United.

But he revealed he expects to be fit in
time to face Newcastle on Sunday, and added: 'I can’t really hobble up
and down the catwalk as much as I’d like to. I really enjoyed it last
year.'

City slickers: Given with former team-mates Nigel de Jong (top right), Patrick Vieira (bottom right) and Joleon Lescott (bottom left)

City slickers: Given with former team-mates Nigel de Jong (top right), Patrick Vieira (bottom right) and Joleon Lescott (bottom left); while Hart (far right) celebrates the win over United

Showing their support: James and Amy Milner

Dutch of class: Nigel de Jong with his wife Winona

Suits you, Sir: Pablo Zabaleta with his partner

Some of the other big names at the star-studded event were fellow City stars Joleon Lescott and James Milner, boy band Westlife, X Factor judge Louis Walsh and Peter Crouch's wife Abbey Clancy.

French fancy: Patrick Vieira was also in attendance

What a pair: Emile Heskey and fiancee Chantelle Tagoe

Safe hands: City reserve keeper Stuart Taylor was also present

Given and his wife have donated more than 1million to charity with their Fashion Kicks events, with thousands of pounds raised from Tuesday night's charity auction going to Macmillan Cancer Support, Stockport’s Beechwood Cancer Care Centre and the Chefs Adopt A School Project.

Adam Johnson wears a skirt at Fashion Kicks event

Posted on May 2, 2012 by adminsports

City celebrate derby win on the catwalk… (and Johnson wears a skirt!)

UPDATED:

08:38 GMT, 2 May 2012