Crazy Rumor of the Day: Ibra to Manchester City
By: Martha | July 19th, 2007
Since the paired arrival of big coaching cheese Sven Goran Eriksson and big, rich Thai cheese Thaksin Shinawatra, it’s been transfer central at Manchester City. In addition to chasing Freddie Ljungberg, the club have already signed young Swiss defender Gelson Fernandes, Brazilian midfielder Geovanni and Rolando Bianchi from Reggina. Now, though, it’s getting serious: Sven’s going after his countrymen.
According to the Malay Mail, which is surely just as reliable as Channel 4, Eriksson is planning to use Thaksin’s millions to launch a Shock!Bid for none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Because, you know, Inter aren’t that attached to him or anything. Plus, they’re so desperate for money they can be persuaded to sell. Mmmhmm. In addition to Ibra, City are also supposedly going to try to steal Inter youngster Goran Slavkovski — another Swede, and apparently a great favorite of both Eriksson and his hilariously named right-hand man Tord Grip — from Inter.
If this turns out to be true, I will be Hulk smash!-level furious, but for let’s all just take a moment to note that all it takes is a little money to turn everyone into Milan. “Ah, you won’t sell? But we have money! Lots and LOTS of money! [pause] What do you mean you still want to keep him? Didn’t you hear? MONEY!”
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looks like inter want offload him after those i heart moggi comments….
Posted from
Canada
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Also in today’s Guardian it mentioned that Man City are after Nery Castillo, the Mexican forward who plays in Greece for Olympiacos. He was probably the best player for Mexico in the Copa America.
I’m not sure there is much to the Ljungberg rumors, as he has said if he leaves Arsenal he’s leaving the Premiership.
Maybe Man City have decided to become the English version of Fiorentina and link themselves with anyone and everyone in the transfer market?
Posted from
United States -
Love it when the pro-English media goes on their recurring “anyone would love to move from a top-4 Serie A/La Liga club to a mid-table English club because they want to play with aaall the big stars” rampage. Wasn’t Luis Figo “desperate” to play in the UEFA cup with Tottenham?
And when Fabregas and Drogba say they want to play in Spain/Italy it’s obviously because they want to face easier opposition…Posted from
Netherlands -
Add: To make it even worse, this is_also_a case of lazy journalism. -”Hey, Eriksson took over Man City, let’s write lots of stories linking him to Swedish players since he’s, well, also Swedish.”
-”But boss, shouldn’t we do some research check if he actually bought Swedish players when he was coaching in Italy?”
-”Do what? This is the Daily Mirror! We do not research inferior leagues! Now run along and make the story.”Posted from
Netherlands -
Rickard, see, you’re trying to be rational and fact-seeking here. As you say, those are words with which the Daily Mirror (and, apparently, the Malay Mail) are entirely unfamiliar.
And yes, Figo really, really wanted to go to Tottenham. According to one guy who works at a British tabloid, anyway.
tmc, I think Man City were actually in for him pretty hard before the whole “I’m not going anywhere in England” thing happened, but it’s certainly over now. Sounds like he’s staying at Arsenal, at least recently.
Posted from
Portugal -
Ibra to Man City makes little sense. They aren’t going to compete for the title and while they shouldn’t be relegation candidates with the recent buys, Ibra would be giving up the opportunity to play in Champions League, contend for Serie A title, etc… Given his form last year he obviously settled into Mancino’s side really quickly. For as much a tool as he can sometimes be, I really like Ibra and wouldn’t want to see him leave Serie A. They’d have to offer him a ton after agreeing on a purchase price with Inter, right?
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United States -
Sounds like Sven’s desperate : )
Ibra to Manchester City seems a bit impossible, but that depends on how much money they offer them : )
And Goran to City? That’s more plausible. He’s signed until ‘11, but he hasn’t been played much in the Primavera team, but with Ribas out of the way, he maybe played more. He doesn’t won’t be loaned out anytime soon ’cause it takes one more year to be considered homegrown,,,,Posted from
Canada -
I really think it’s a completely fabricated story that they threw out there b/c he’s a controversial player and therefore, in theory, could be bought if a club is sick of him. But he’s been great at Inter and, as you say Joe, has no reason in the world to leave.
Posted from
Portugal -
Just noticed this:
“another Swede, and apparently a great favorite of both Eriksson and his hilariously named right-hand man Tord Grip”.
Believe it or not, Tord Grip roughly translates into Thunder Griffon.Posted from
Netherlands -
It. Does. NOT. Man, no wonder Sven keeps him around! I remember reading that he might have to jettison Senor Grip if he wanted the Man City job and was most relieved to see he was still around. After all, Thunder was partially responsible for making England frightfully mediocre — not many men have that on their resume.
(And I’ve learned not to trust these Offside flags — are you really from Holland? If so, I need to compliment you on the friendliness of your football fans. I hung out with many of them during Euro 2004 and they were unfailingly awesome, even when getting spanked by Portugal.)
Posted from
Portugal -
I’m currently located in Norway and I’m not sure how I got that flag, or how to change it, but I don’t mind so I haven’t spent any time trying to figure it out.
I was actually on a roadtrip through Holland/Belgium during Euro 2004 and noticed the exact same thing about their fans. Still have an orange umbrella, cap and mini-radio I got for free at a motel in Leeuwarden.
Posted from
Netherlands -
Figo did desperately want to come to Spurs. Honest. The craziest shit about the whole thing was that Spurs fans all responded to the rumor with “He’s too old” Seriously, what? I would have killed a man to bring Figo to the lane..
Thunder Griffin? That’s got to be the awesomest name in the history of names. I’m stealing it.
Posted from
United States -
Nice! No one gave me any clothes or umbrellas, but there was a lot of beer, and giant squares totally full of people wearing orange, singing John Denver songs. (Which I don’t get but, hey, whatever works.)
Posted from
Portugal -
Hey, welcome Thunder! (And if Spurs fans thought Figo was too old, they’re clearly not worthy. Morons.)
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Portugal -
so, I’m pretty baffled by the Oranje love for John Denver. I tried to see what the internet told me.. His real last name is Deutschendorf. is that dutch? Apparently his dad went by the name “Dutch”… other than that, i got nothing…
Posted from
United States -
I don’t get it either, but they were singing Country Roads like there was no tomorrow. And repeatedly.
Posted from
Portugal -
Mister Thunder is actually not unique among Swedish ex-athletes in having a name that befits a comic book hero when translated into English. Björn Borg means Bear Castle, and it’s not like you have to look up the meaning of the names in some guide, they are the actual, common tongue words for Bear and Castle.
Posted from
Netherlands
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