Roberto Mancini’s agent has revealed that Manchester City are radaring Ezequiel Lavezzi as the Napoli Argentine striker is likely to join the Eastlands side this window transfer. The FA Cup winners are looking for Carlos Tevez’s replacer after the Argentine informed club’s chairman of his desire to pack from the City of Manchester Stadium. Although Tevez hasn’t received any answer from the English side, the Italian is looking forward to Lavezzi signing his side, though no offer has been made so far this period by the Premier League side. Lavezzi finished the season third with Napoli, one of their best performances in history, and will play in the UEFA Champions League either he remains at the current club or signs City.
Foto Source: lettersfromvagabondia.files.wordpress.com
The Italians ask 31 million euros for the 26-year-old, money the Eastlands consider ‘excessive’. Said Giorgio de Giorgis: “But 31 million euros for Lavezzi, I think it’s excessive. However, to find a player who is ready like Pocho is, it’s not easy. Manchester City could include a player in the deal, but I don’t know what player could interest Napoli. The only one could be Barry, who is an England international and does not have a high salary.” Mancini’s agent confirmed at the same time that City showed their interest regardless of Tevez’s uncertain future. Lavezzi has scored 29 goals and gathered 126 games with the Italian side which he signed back in 2007. Manchester have made two big-name moves so far this window, bringing Gael Clichy of Arsenal on a four-year deal and Partizan Belgrade’s Stefan Savic who also signed a four-season deal with the Premier League side.
Manchester City finished the season third with 7u1 points, the same as former defending champions Chelsea, having already qualified for the next term’s UEFA Champions League group stage, competition the Eastlands side haven’t reached since 1968. Apart from Lavezzi’s uncertain status, City are also confronting Emmanuel Adebayor’s return. The 27-year-old, who joined Real Madrid earlier this year on a loan deal, showed his desire to stay on Santiago Bernabeu. Jose Mourinho, too, is keen to keep the Togolese at Real after a very good half-season in which the City player scored eight goals. Even more than that, Adebayor is willing to wait until the last second for English’s favorable answer though the two side haven’t come to an agreement or made any clear offer so far.
Chelsea had also looked interested in Lavezzi’s services at one point, but the Blues failed to contact the Italians. The Blues haven’t made any big-name move so far this transfer window, but their new manager Andre Villas Boas could call for his former FC Porto top scorers Falcao and Hulk who are likely to join the Stamford Bridge side this summer, though neither of the two sides have confirmed their moves. Lavezzi finished the season with 12 assists and six goals in 31 games, being the best servant at Napoli and the third best scorer after Edison Cavani and Marek Hamsik.
