Re: January Transfers/Rumours Thread

[SaltfordWhite]

Balotelli off to AC Milan for £17m...

Is that official?

It's all but done.  He's a total arse, but brilliant entertainment.

[Burt]

Re Balotelli, here's the blurb from the Beeb:

AC Milan have agreed a deal to sign Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli on a four-and-a-half-year contract, the Italian club's director Umberto Gandini has confirmed.

Former Inter Milan striker Balotelli, 22, will have a medical in Milan on Wednesday before signing.

Considering Balotelli's history with Inter, it's a fascinating transfer. He has never hidden his affection for Milan. Marco Materazzi revealed earlier this week how Balotelli would every now and again turn up for training at Inter wearing Milan socks. As playful punishment, Materazzi would take the scissors to them. TV show Striscia la Notizia caught up with Balotelli and even got him to pull on a red and black shirt. Now he gets to wear one for real. Attention switches to 24 February, the date of the next Derby della Madonnina when Balotelli will face his old team Inter.

An initial fee of 22m euros (£19m) is believed to have been paid, rising to 25m euros (£22m) with add-ons.

Manchester City have declined to comment on the news.

The Italy international had travelled with City to London for the Premier League game against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday evening, when manager Roberto Mancini is likely to comment on the deal.

Gandini said on Twitter:  "Transfer agreement for Balotelli signed with Manchester City. Medical is tomorrow [Wednesday] in Milan, then personal terms until 2017 will be signed."

Manchester City signed Balotelli for £24m in 2010 with the striker scoring 20 Premier League goals for the club.

Balotelli's departure comes weeks after he was involved in a training ground altercation with Mancini.

That was the last in a series of controversies during his time with the Premier League champions.
In his first season at Manchester City he scored 10 goals in 28 appearances, but was also sent off twice - against West Bromwich Albion and Dynamo Kiev.

The 2011-12 season was arguably his most productive as he scored 20 goals in 40 appearances, and he provided the crucial assist for Sergio Aguero to score the title-clinching goal against QPR in May last year.

However, he still struggled with discipline on the pitch, picking up 11 yellow cards and he was also sent off in Premier League games against Liverpool and Arsenal, the latter prompting Mancini to suggest he would be willing to sell the striker.

Balotelli impressed for Italy at Euro 2012, notably scoring twice in the semi-final win against Germany.

However, he failed to build on that when he returned to domestic action with Manchester City this season and found himself behind Aguero, Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko.

In total, he made 20 appearances during the current campaign, 12 of those from the bench, and scored three goals, the last of which came in a 2-0 victory at Wigan on 28 November.

[EJL]

Just heard SS mention that assist statistic, Burt. Only got one in two and a half years and it won them the league. Who else but Balotelli, ay?

[Chutney]

Mackie not even on the bench for qphaha. Big sign that he's moving on. Do we need him? I suppose he'll give plenty of running, can't see him starting for us though, could be a good option from the bench though. Better than rodaellga in my opinion.

[Mr K.Dilkington]

Mackie not even on the bench for qphaha. Big sign that he's moving on. Do we need him? I suppose he'll give plenty of running, can't see him starting for us though, could be a good option from the bench though. Better than rodaellga in my opinion.

You could say he's Duff without the crossing and dribbling ability,Would be a good squad player.

[YankeeJim]

Just read on Sky that Collins John has been cut loose by Barnet. Any takers? LOL

[Mr K.Dilkington]

Just read on Sky that Collins John has been cut loose by Barnet. Any takers? LOL

Can't believe I had that guys name on the back of a Fulham shirt. His performance in a 3-4 loss at home to Blackburn was deceiving.

[zander]

Just read on Sky that Collins John has been cut loose by Barnet. Any takers? LOL

Can't believe I had that guys name on the back of a Fulham shirt. His performance in a 3-4 loss at home to Blackburn was deceiving.

I'll never forgot that goal at Boro

[zander]

Balotelli off to AC Milan for £17m...

Is that official?

God, I hope so. The last time I wanted someone OUT of the Premier League this badly it was Christian Ronaldo. I haven't missed his presence for even a second since, and I know I'll feel no loss when Balotelli is some other league's problem.

It's the press fixation with him that annoys me more. Anyway I think its quite a good deal for Milan, I enjoy watching a bit of serie A and am curious to see how him and El Shaarawy team up.

[jmh]

Just heard SS mention that assist statistic, Burt. Only got one in two and a half years and it won them the league. Who else but Balotelli, ay?

According to the Premier League website he has four, not one.  Not a ton, but still.

[God The Mechanic]

Redknapp has stated he wants more players.... by naming two substitute goalkeepers.  God I loathe that man.

[cmg]

Apparantly QPR have entered the bidding for Jamie Mackie.

[EJL]

Just heard SS mention that assist statistic, Burt. Only got one in two and a half years and it won them the league. Who else but Balotelli, ay?

According to the Premier League website he has four, not one.  Not a ton, but still.

Maybe it was one Premier League assist? That or Sky have got their facts wrong (despite religiously using Opta).

[ClarksOriginal]

Urby Emmanuelson on the verge of signing for Fulham on a 5 month loan deal.

SKY ITALIA reporting as well as the Journalist who broke the Balotelli news, as well as the Milan associated account 'Milanello'  :wine:

[EJL]

Urby Emmanuelson on the verge of signing for Fulham on a 5 month loan deal.

SKY ITALIA reporting as well as the Journalist who broke the Balotelli news, as well as the Milan associated account 'Milanello'  :wine:

Still can't believe this.

[jmh]

Redknapp has stated he wants more players.... by naming two substitute goalkeepers.  God I loathe that man.

Pardon me if this isn't proper slang in the UK, but, god what a douche he is.

[itombomb]

On transfer links to Valencia players, their financial situation is terrible and they will be offloading any assets they have.

[EJL]

On transfer links to Valencia players, their financial situation is terrible and they will be offloading any assets they have.

We need a striker. How about Roberto Soldado? 079.gif

[jmh]

Re. Emanuelson, per the Wikipedia page for AC Milan's current season (so take it for what it's worth), he's mainly been used this season as (stop me if you've heard this one before) an inverted right wing.  Jol, as Ajax manager, initiated his transition from left back to midfield, so my initial hunch that he was being looked at as a replacement for Riise may have been wrong.

[Texas White]

Apparantly QPR have entered the bidding for Jamie Mackie.

He is way too good for them. 100% effort and I think twitchy is making a huge mistake moving him on.