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Pellegrini among the Favorites to Replace Mancini

May 21st, 2013

Manuel Pellegrini remains the top among the hot favorites list of speculations to be the new manager of Manchester City after Roberto Mancini was sacked a year to the day since he brought the Premier League trophy to Eastlands. Roberto Mancini has been sacked as Manchester City manager just two days earlier at the Etihad Stadium citing that he failed to achieve the club’s target. Assistant manager David Platt followed the Italian out of the exit door, with coach Brian Kidd placed in interim charge for the rest of the season. Kidd has also been asked to lead the team on next week’s United States tour.

Now, following Roberto Mancini’s departure from Etihad Stadium, it appears that the 59-year-old Chilean is poised to take over the real thing. Malaga boss Pellegrini has been a reported long-term target for City, having previously won plaudits for his work at two other Spanish clubs in Real Madrid and Villarreal. Even though the media grapevine is abuzz with extensive profiles of Pellegrini, the Chilean tried to dampen down speculation by saying: “I deny here and now being the new coach of Manchester City, I haven’t signed any agreement with anybody.” The 59-year-old is odds on to take charge at the Etihad, with other candidates such as Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Rafael Benitez considered big outsiders.

Mancini took charge in December 2009 and led the club to FA Cup success two years later, their first trophy in 35 years, before lifting the Premier League title last season.

However, his failure to build on those achievements counted against him and he was unable to secure a second FA Cup, surprisingly losing to Wigan in the final on Saturday. Manuel Pellegrini was appointed to manage Malaga, a team dubbed “the Manchester City of Spain”, less than three years ago.

Pellegrini’s awareness that he is top of City’s list gives him a powerful bargaining hand, knowing that it would be embarrassing for City to miss out on him now. But after a Mancini era that was characterized by the Italian’s high-handedness in each and every department, Manchester City will be cautious and will be cutting down the powers of the team’s ancillary roles, in order to avoid the mistakes of Mancini.

Manchester City’s pursuit of Manuel Pellegrini is expected to help the club’s move to sign his 21-year-old Malaga playmaker, Isco, with whom the Chilean also shares an agent. Reports in Spain suggested that Isco, who is valued at £27m, has been offered a four-year deal by City, but the player and his father, Paco Alarcon, are considering if a further year in Spain would be better. City sporting director Txiki Begiristain’s talks with Pellegrini’s agent, Jesus Martinez, have allowed him to discuss bringing Isco, a Spain international, to the Etihad.

Rio Ferdinand Retires from International Football

May 17th, 2013

Rio Ferdinand has announced his retirement from international football and England duty citing an influx of young talent and a desire to concentrate on his Manchester United career as the reasons behind his decision.

The 34-year-old Manchester United defender, who has won 81 caps, made his debut in 1997 and had represented his country at three World Cups. Ferdinand became the youngest defender to play for England when he made his international debut as a 19-year-old against Cameroon at Wembley in November 1997. He played in three World Cups— 1998, 2002 and 2006, but was ruled out of the 2010 tournament in South Africa because of a knee injury. Ferdinand has not played for England since a Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland in June 2011.

Ferdinand had been called up for England’s World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro in March after an international absence of two years but had then declined the opportunity, instead travelling to Qatar as a television pundit claiming his “intricate, pre-planned” fitness programme would not allow him to play. That decision was widely interpreted as a snub to Hodgson, who had left him out of the Euro 2012 squad for what the England manager described as “footballing reasons”.

However, at the time Ferdinand’s brother Anton was in dispute with the Chelsea captain John Terry, who he claimed had racially abused him, and it was seen as a convenient way of avoiding friction within the squad. Terry was cleared of the charge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in July, but was later found guilty by the Football Association.

The Manchester United defender’s decision finally brings his deteriorating relationship with the national side to an end, in an official manner. Ferdinand confirmed his decision on Wednesday morning, the day before Roy Hodgson is due to name his England squad for the friendlies against Republic of Ireland and Brazil. It means Hodgson will have to look at alternatives for the Ireland and Brazil friendlies given Chris Smalling is injured and Joleon Lescott out of form.

On Thursday, Hodgson will name his England squad for the end-of-season friendlies against Republic of Ireland at Wembley on 29 May and Brazil in Rio de Janiero four days later. The England boss didn’t hesitate to pay tribute to the former West Ham man saying Ferdinand is a real achiever who had a senior international career with England over 14 years at the highest level.

Ferdinand helped Manchester United retain the Premier League title and was voted in to the Professional Footballers’ Association’s team of the year by his peers. The former West Ham and Leeds centre-back is expected to sign a new contract with Manchester United this summer. And, with David Moyes replacing Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer, Ferdinand has decided the time is right to concentrate on club matters.

Monaco making plans to challenge the relocation order

May 14th, 2013

As Monaco who has been under the tax exemption status has decided to challenge the order on legal terms which will force them in moving their headquarters to France. They have even blamed the French Football Federation for demanding an “outrageous” payment of 200 million euros (£168m) for keeping their base in Monaco only. However the claim has been rejected by FFF and they have insisted that the offer was made by Monaco themselves.

Monaco are now up for promoting and attracting the top players as the foreigners will be devoid of paying income tax there. On Sunday, the club said, “”ASM FC [Monaco], after consultation with its legal counsel, has decided that it has no other choice but to bring legal action in order to obtain a judicial resolution of the dispute”

“As part of this legal action, ASM FC will be seeking the annulment of the LFP’s [French League's] decision of 21 March requiring the club to establish its headquarters in France, as well as a claim for damages from the LFP as compensation for financial and commercial losses suffered as a result of that decision.”

The French second division is at present on the side of Caludio Ranieri, the former Chelsea manager. Despite of the fact, he missed the chance of ending a two year absence from Ligue 1 when they were defeated by Caen this year. They lead second-placed Nantes, who have a game in hand, by 5 points, however can clinch one among the 3 promotion places if they beat Nimes notwithstanding different results next Saturday.

The dispute with French footballing authorities came into existence when Monaco were ordered to reposition by the beginning of June 2014.  If they went for the switch, the club will be forced to pay tax in France.

The major cause that has led to such an action is the supposedly the 75% income tax rate that is applicable on high earners. Thus Monaco will face a great advantage if the regulation takes place in comparison with their French League rivals.

Although being positioned in Ligue 2, heavy investments are being made for Dmitry Rybolovlev, the Russian Billionaire had bought the majority stake in Dec 2011. Furthermore they have been associated with star names such as Frank Lampard of Chelsea and Samir Nasri and Carlos Tevez of Manchester City.

When being asked about the demand of paying 200 million euros, Monaco said that the French Federation President Noel LE Graet is “acting on behalf of both FFF and LFP” and the offer was made while in meeting with Rybolovlev in Paris on last Friday.

The club further added to the statement, “The position of the club is very clear: ASM FC considers that such a demand is not only outrageous but also totally unacceptable”

Premier League: Sunderland steals crucial point against Stoke City

May 10th, 2013

Paolo Di Canio’s 10-man Sunderland moved a step closer to safety by scoring a draw against Stoke City at the Stadium of Light on Monday 6 May 2013, while struggling vigorously in the battle of survival to stay in the Premier League Championship. The draw 1-1 leaves Tony Pulis’s Stoke City still in the danger and perils of mathematical relegation but Sunderland is in greater danger. After Sunderland were thrashed 6-1 at Aston Villa last Monday, manager Paolo Di Canio had expected a response, knowing a victory could have moved his side up six places in the Premier League table.