SOCCER:MANCHESTER CITY have pulled out of the battle to sign Samuel Eto'o. It seemed the Cameroon striker was bound for Eastlands a fortnight ago, when Barcelona accepted a bid for the star, who scored in last season's Champions League final triumph against Manchester United.
However, the deal quickly became mired in a contractual dispute between Eto’o and the Catalan outfit.
The player, who is about to embark on the last year of his contract at the Nou Camp, felt he should receive a significant portion of the €21 million City were willing to pay as he would be entitled to leave for nothing next summer. City boss Mark Hughes initially signalled his intention to wait for Eto’o to resolve the wrangle. Yet, as the week has dragged on, the argument has become more confusing and complicated.
It was suggested City were ready to offer Eto’o a deadline of this weekend to determine his future. In the end, chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak did not even give the 28-year-old that long, with Barcelona contacted yesterday with confirmation the deal was off.
“Samuel Eto’o is undoubtedly a fine footballer but the circumstances surrounding him were such that the deal could not be completed,” City chief executive Garry Cook said. “We now feel the time is right to pursue other avenues. We have a clear strategic transfer plan, which we continue to follow.”
Real Madrid have again insisted they wish to add Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso to their list of high-profile summer recruits despite the Anfield club reportedly asking for up to €58 million for the 27-year-old Spanish international. “Madrid don’t discard an option until it is truly impossible,” said Real sporting director Miguel Pardeza. “Right now there is an insurmountable economic barrier but that can change.”
Madrid have spent €243 million so far this summer to bring Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol to the Bernabeu and director general Jorge Valdano has said the club also want to sign more homegrown players, including Alonso, who played for Real Sociedad before moving to Liverpool in the summer of 2004.
In May, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insisted he did not want to sell the midfielder.
However, Pardeza also said Real have no plans to attempt to sign Arsenal and Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas. “He’s a great player, without a doubt but, at the moment, he is not a Real Madrid target,” said Pardeza. “The club is working on other ones.”
Reports in Spain suggested Madrid could turn to the Arsenal captain after baulking at the asking price for Alonso and seemingly being rebuffed by Roma over Daniele de Rossi.
Real have also been heavily linked to Bayern Munich’s 26-year-old French international midfielder Frank Ribery.
Everton have signed Brazilian striker Jo on a season-long loan from Manchester City. The 22-year-old spent five months on loan from Eastlands at Goodison Park last term, and after a week of discussions, the former CSKA Moscow player – a €21 million signing for City last summer – will spend the next 12 months with the FA Cup finalists.
Everton were hoping to complete the final paperwork for Jo to play last night in the club’s first pre-season friendly at Bury.
Jo scored five times in 12 appearances for Everton last season, but his future at City was put in doubt by the arrival of Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn last month. The loan deal was initially agreed last weekend and the player travelled to Scotland with Everton for a training camp this week.
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