Football News
Yellow submarines rival City for Argentine
Spanish La Liga side Villarreal are hoping to convince Real Madrid ace Fernando Gago to stay in Spain’s top tier amid avid interest from Manchester City. Spanish radio station Cardena SER are reporting that the Spanish club have made contact with Madrid chiefs in an effort to sign the talented Argentinean international, with Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini the favourite to land the combative midfielder. City were hoping to bring both the Argentine and AC Milan’s Mathieu Flamini, however the Italian boss was only able to persuaded former Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira to sign on at the Eastlands.
Manchester City failed with a deadline day move for the midfield player as Real Madrid did not have enough time to find a suitable replacement. Roberto Mancini confirmed in the January transfer window that he was keen to acquire the services of Gago, however Mancini will now have to wait until the summer to get his man, with increased competition for the player’s services.
One of Fernando Gago’s representatives Zoran Vekic confirmed to the Manchester Evening News on deadline day that Marcelo Lombilla, Gago’s principal agent, was in Madrid to hold talks with Real Madrid Sporting Director Jorge Valdano:??“Lombilla is in Madrid and has met twice with Valdano but I do not believe that he will leave.
“There is still a meeting pending, but I doubt that Madrid will let him join Manchester City because it is not a question of money.”
Gago, 23, has struggled to break into the Real Madrid first team with former Arsenal, Chelsea and Portsmouth midfielder Lass Diarra ahead of him in the first team. Gago is believed to be frustrated at his inability to nail down a regular first team spot since securing a move to Europe in 2007 for £13.7 million.?
Before Gago’s move to Real Madrid in 2007 the player was monitored by a host of Europe’s biggest clubs including Manchester United and Arsenal, and has already won 28 caps for Argentina.