So it begins....
ROBERTO MANCINI CHASING LUIS SUAREZ
Thursday November 15,2012
By Paul Joyce
THE seed has been sown and, if nothing else, Roberto Mancini’s interest in Luis Suarez demonstrates his ambitions for Manchester City are still smouldering.
The whispers that surround Mancini’s long-term future at the Etihad Stadium may persist, but the Italian is clearly not prepared to compromise his planning in the short term.
It is no great surprise that the City manager would covet Suarez, presently the best player in the Premier League and an early candidate for Player of the Year if those voting can see past his reputation and focus purely on the stellar performances that quicken the pulse.
City’s own complement of strikers has not proved as effective in practice as it should be when their lofty reputations are written down.
Mario Balotelli, without a league goal this season, primarily remains a headache and an even bigger one than Suarez, who carries considerable baggage himself. Mancini clearly does not trust Edin Dzeko to start games and doubts persist over how long the peace with Carlos Tevez will last.
While Sergio Aguero has scored four goals, it is City’s attack which has spluttered as much as their defence.
Yet the obstacles blocking what would be a sensational transfer deal are as sizeable as the fee that would be required to prise Uruguay striker Suarez from Liverpool.
First, there is the fact that Mancini’s own position at City has been weakened by the club’s impendingexit from the Champions League which could be confirmed if they fail to overcome Real Madrid next Wednesday.
City’s new hierarchy, comprising of director of football Txiki Begiristain, and chief executive Ferran Soriano, could be seen as a positive for Mancini having replaced his nemesis Brian Marwood. But, equally, they have no loyalty towards Mancini, having arrived at the club via Barcelona, and will be mindful of just how Pep Guardiola’s sabbatical is progressing. There is also the need to offload players, in accordance with Financial Fair Play, before lavishing mind-boggling fees elsewhere.
Complicating matters still further is Suarez’s current happiness on Merseyside – he signed a new contract in the summer – as highlighted by manager Brendan Rodgers last Sunday.
“At this moment I’m safe in the knowledge that Luis had the chance to go in the summer,” said Rodgers. “There was probably no better time for him to do that with a new manager coming in. He could have had an excuse to go, but having spoken to him at length he committed to staying here. He gave us the opportunity to see how it was going to work. It’s up to us as a club to add players who can help support him and move us on.”
Suarez’s form – he has 11 goals – and unstinting work-rate does not suggest someone disillusioned with the position in the same way that Fernando Torres was at this stage two-years ago.
What decreed that Liverpool were unable to resist Chelsea’s overtures to the player was that the Spain striker wanted to leave in 2011 and the eventual £50 million fee, which matched his escape clause, was too good to turn down.
Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, would risk a riot if they contemplated cashing in on a player, whose £18.5m move from Ajax on the day Torres went through the exit door is the one piece of transfer activiy during their time at the helm no one can question.
Yet the interesting part of Rodgers’ response to Suarez’s future was that he prefaced his answer with the phrase “at this moment”.
Rodgers is tuned into the reality of the situation. He knows that Suarez’s own talent transcends his squad at present, as highlighted by the fact that if his goals and assists were scrubbed off Liverpool would have just two Premier League points.
The manager is also acutely aware that January represents a month in which Liverpool can reaffirm their own ambition and prove to Suarez that he need not look elsewhere for the success he craves.
If they pass up the opportunity, then every twisting turn and sprinkling of stardust from their talisman will only increase the number of interested parties ready to circle and take their chance on signing the striker.
Whether that be City, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona or Real, the battle lines are being drawn between Europe’s big-hitters.
The fight to keep Suarez, his long-term contract aside, is only just beginning.
ROBERTO MANCINI CHASING LUIS SUAREZ
Thursday November 15,2012
By Paul Joyce
THE seed has been sown and, if nothing else, Roberto Mancini’s interest in Luis Suarez demonstrates his ambitions for Manchester City are still smouldering.
The whispers that surround Mancini’s long-term future at the Etihad Stadium may persist, but the Italian is clearly not prepared to compromise his planning in the short term.
It is no great surprise that the City manager would covet Suarez, presently the best player in the Premier League and an early candidate for Player of the Year if those voting can see past his reputation and focus purely on the stellar performances that quicken the pulse.
City’s own complement of strikers has not proved as effective in practice as it should be when their lofty reputations are written down.
Mario Balotelli, without a league goal this season, primarily remains a headache and an even bigger one than Suarez, who carries considerable baggage himself. Mancini clearly does not trust Edin Dzeko to start games and doubts persist over how long the peace with Carlos Tevez will last.
While Sergio Aguero has scored four goals, it is City’s attack which has spluttered as much as their defence.
Yet the obstacles blocking what would be a sensational transfer deal are as sizeable as the fee that would be required to prise Uruguay striker Suarez from Liverpool.
First, there is the fact that Mancini’s own position at City has been weakened by the club’s impendingexit from the Champions League which could be confirmed if they fail to overcome Real Madrid next Wednesday.
City’s new hierarchy, comprising of director of football Txiki Begiristain, and chief executive Ferran Soriano, could be seen as a positive for Mancini having replaced his nemesis Brian Marwood. But, equally, they have no loyalty towards Mancini, having arrived at the club via Barcelona, and will be mindful of just how Pep Guardiola’s sabbatical is progressing. There is also the need to offload players, in accordance with Financial Fair Play, before lavishing mind-boggling fees elsewhere.
Complicating matters still further is Suarez’s current happiness on Merseyside – he signed a new contract in the summer – as highlighted by manager Brendan Rodgers last Sunday.
“At this moment I’m safe in the knowledge that Luis had the chance to go in the summer,” said Rodgers. “There was probably no better time for him to do that with a new manager coming in. He could have had an excuse to go, but having spoken to him at length he committed to staying here. He gave us the opportunity to see how it was going to work. It’s up to us as a club to add players who can help support him and move us on.”
Suarez’s form – he has 11 goals – and unstinting work-rate does not suggest someone disillusioned with the position in the same way that Fernando Torres was at this stage two-years ago.
What decreed that Liverpool were unable to resist Chelsea’s overtures to the player was that the Spain striker wanted to leave in 2011 and the eventual £50 million fee, which matched his escape clause, was too good to turn down.
Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, would risk a riot if they contemplated cashing in on a player, whose £18.5m move from Ajax on the day Torres went through the exit door is the one piece of transfer activiy during their time at the helm no one can question.
Yet the interesting part of Rodgers’ response to Suarez’s future was that he prefaced his answer with the phrase “at this moment”.
Rodgers is tuned into the reality of the situation. He knows that Suarez’s own talent transcends his squad at present, as highlighted by the fact that if his goals and assists were scrubbed off Liverpool would have just two Premier League points.
The manager is also acutely aware that January represents a month in which Liverpool can reaffirm their own ambition and prove to Suarez that he need not look elsewhere for the success he craves.
If they pass up the opportunity, then every twisting turn and sprinkling of stardust from their talisman will only increase the number of interested parties ready to circle and take their chance on signing the striker.
Whether that be City, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona or Real, the battle lines are being drawn between Europe’s big-hitters.
The fight to keep Suarez, his long-term contract aside, is only just beginning.
