CITY £100m SPREE
Mark Hughes targets Kaka, Buffon and Torres
MARK HUGHES - money
MARK HUGHES will embark on an epic £100million spending spree in January with Kaka and Gigi Buffon in his sights.
Manchester City have alerted the most powerful agents in the world and told them to line up only the cream for Hughes.
He flies to Abu Dhabi next month for a meeting with City's owners but has already been told he is free to smash the world transfer record to sign the likes of Buffon, Kaka and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.
Brazilian star Kaka was a target for Chelsea during the summer considered a move to England.
But it would take an extraordinary bid in excess of £50m for AC Milan to consider losing the World Player of the Year - and City would only need to pay half that for Buffon.
Spotlight
The Juventus No 1 is unsettled and Italian sources claim he is desperate for a new challenge.
Hughes knows he needs a top-class keeper in order to let England Under-21 star Joe Hart develop out of the spotlight.
Hughes has also been tempted by the news Torres has yet to renegotiate his deal at Liverpool.
The Spanish striker took a pay CUT when he moved to Anfield on the proviso that talks began on a new deal once he had proved his worth.
His advisors are looking for a £40,000-a-week leap to £120,000 but there is no sit-down in sight.
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This article has 45 comments
Well, english football is the best in the world and every rich man will like to buy a club. As for me i will never blame anyone inasmuch theyobey rules been given by the FA
By Samson.. Posted October 22 2008 at 9:41 PM.
dreams a far from reality...it is always and it will always be about money....you just have to keep your ears and eyes open
By mnyama.. Posted October 18 2008 at 9:41 AM.
u city fans no **** all u think just coz u might get the best players in the world ur gonna be the biggest club in the world but u will not have a team it will just be individuals that can't even play good together n just remember we the champs won't sell u our players so we will still be the best coz we bought for the future so we r not just gonna disappear united all ways n forever no1 so **** off back to the biggest council house in the world u mongz.
By parkside.. Posted October 16 2008 at 5:18 PM.
man city are trying to be a bigger club than they actully are
By tommy.. Posted October 16 2008 at 12:24 PM.
Rag baiter
Last time i looked Man City got their butts spanked by Liverpool, and Chelsea. I will also guarantee that Robinho will leave City after one season. There is absolutely no incentive for world class players to go to Man City. You guys are just a small club with no history....wait sorry. You have a history of losing!!!! You guys are world class in that!!
By Man United Rules.. Posted October 13 2008 at 2:02 AM.
Rag baiter
Man City are the 6th best supported club in England? No wonder why you guys have that downcast look on your faces. You get beat so many times you are accustomed to losing!!
Face the facts. You guys are a wannabe big club. Money is not going to buy you everything.
By American Fan.. Posted October 13 2008 at 1:59 AM.
Serie A, Best League in The World
By justin. Posted 10? 12 2008 at 7:05 ??.
JUSTIN your an idiot!!
By Sen.. Posted October 13 2008 at 1:25 AM.
I can't understnd these doubters on here who think Manchester City won't progress under the new owners.They have already bought the club and it was the smallest of four business deals they were handling at the time.They have bought Robinho,Zabeleta and Jo etc.The intention is to purchase the City of Manchester Stadium and the surrounding area from Manchester Council.The family behind the takeover is worth $560 Billion although I appreciate that its currently being funded out of a personal bank account.Teams such as ManUtd,Chelsea and Liverpool have spent millions on players and they and their followers don't like it now that they can be outbid.Get used to it as the new owners of Manchester City are here for the long-haul.Are the owners of ManUtd,Liverpool and Chelsea etc?
By Chapman.. Posted October 12 2008 at 8:19 PM.
Serie A, Best League in The World
By justin.. Posted October 12 2008 at 7:05 PM.
sitcur
Get a life,son.Everything is now in place for City and you're just a jealous "little boy."
City have been the 6th best supported club in England despite winning nowt for years and are ready for blast-off.
Get used to it.Adjust to it.If you don't it's going to hurt bitter people like you so bad....
By rag baiter.. Posted October 12 2008 at 7:00 PM.
Hamad Lone
Torres will never go to City. Please wake up from your dream. Man City is a second rate club and will always be a second rate club. Way up you little boy
By sitcur.. Posted October 12 2008 at 6:11 PM.
Torres to mancity ?? NEVER !! He is happy at liverpool and will be here for the next 5 years for sure !!
By Rafalution.. Posted October 12 2008 at 6:01 PM.
torres is stayin at liverpool:why ,because man city will never win nothing.not with all the money in the world.at least ciy can dream ehhhhhh...........
By by d duffy.. Posted October 12 2008 at 5:30 PM.
Else where the game is gradually growing from its entertainment status to the business plc its founding nation had in mind when it originated it. What is all these noises about millionaires and billionaires from all over the world buying up clubs in England. The english are only taking back what belongs to them. For years the fine leather game was stolen away from its originators to South America and later to Africa where it was put into evening entertainment use. The criminals exploited all possible things and manner this leather can be put into that they became master of their loot. The english had fought toothlessly to master the game while keeping it as a business like their looters but to no hope. This I can bear witness to, everywhere this game is being played as a sport I have never seen the english. The Olympic is a case in hand in recent times and past times; plus the game had always been behind the notoriuos pool gambling world wide. If you see Mr platini first, please tell him for me to wake up to the real world, the english are back for theirs, to make football a total business. Even the Brazilians have accepted it, who are you Mr Platini? Do not be surprise to wake up to a good saturday league dug out some evening to see Mr Pele with Andy Gray and the rest of the sky crews.
By Godwin Amrore.. Posted October 12 2008 at 5:02 PM.
Else where the game is gradually growing from its entertainment status to the business plc its founding nation had in mind when it originated it. What is all these noise about millionaire and billionaire from all over the world buying up clubs in England. The english are only taking back what belongs to them. For years the fine leather game was stolen away from its originators to South America and later to Africa where it was put into evening entertainment use. The criminals exploit all possible things and manner this leather can be put into that they became master of their loot. The english had fought toothlessly to master the game while keeping it as a business like their looters but to no hope. This I can bear witness to, everywhere this game is being played as a sport I have never seen the english. The Olympic is a case in hand in recent times and past times; plus the game had always been behind the notoriuos pool gambling world wide. If see Mr platini first, please tell him for me to wake up to real world.
By Godwin Amrore.. Posted October 12 2008 at 4:48 PM.
you can all say what you like there is NO loyalty in football apart from the fans some people on here do not realise the amount of money these new owners of man city have got and will stop at nothing to get the players they want £120.000 a week is loose change to these guys they will get kaka in january and torres and whoever else they want so stop bleating sit back and watch the mighty blues spend spend spend spend fernando torres man citys number 9
By a.s manchester.. Posted October 12 2008 at 3:54 PM.
Paul, why would Utd want to be in Citys position, you are raving. Yes Utd would rather never have won the Premiership or the Champs league.... maybe you're sober now!!
By Aidan.. Posted October 12 2008 at 3:46 PM.
Sue, Stick to washing the pots, you not seen the fair play league table recently ? It's obvious you could write all you know about football on the back off a postage stamp.
By Dave.. Posted October 12 2008 at 1:57 PM.
AC MILAN is not in the Champions League, but in the UEFA CUP, but thats not the reason KAKA's not going to MAN CITY, unless its only money, which is not, as he has stated in the past he loves the game first, and he is to Religious to be greedy , the only reason he may move will be for a new challenge, with one of the big Four.
By Clynt.. Posted October 12 2008 at 12:25 PM.
In this world success breeds financial gain, all players want to play for the most successful clubs. It's not rocket science...
Would any of you making comments on here, do your current role/job purely for the love of it?
I'm thinking not really.
If they just wanted to play for the love, they really don't need agents. Football would be all they care about.
By Steve.. Posted October 12 2008 at 12:40 PM.
Liverpool or Man City........mmmmmmmm oh yes Liverpool of course there is comparison...!!!
By Terry Holloway.. Posted October 12 2008 at 1:06 PM.
I love the game but find the financial side of it obscene. I would'nt mind a single one off payment of £120,000 to last me for the rest of my life, never mind getting that amount every single week. Also forget about England being a top side again until we limit the number of foreign players allowed to play in the premier league.
By Mike.. Posted October 12 2008 at 1:06 PM.
Why would a fan of Liverpool who is enjoying scoring goals for fun want to join Man City. Just cos you have money doesn't mean to say you can buy them. Why would Torres leave for a club with no history. With all the money in the world Man City could still not afford him......
By Terry Holloway.. Posted October 12 2008 at 1:00 PM.
Would KAKA take a big Cheque and play in league One or in the Championship ?, I don't think so Mr Ayub Khan.
By Clynt.. Posted October 12 2008 at 1:00 PM.
sherbertfizz, actually your the one who has got the spelling wrong, the abbreviation is not Mancs, its Manks, as in Manky - inferior and worthless.
By Paul.. Posted October 12 2008 at 1:13 PM.
All these comments from Man U fans and the like make me laugh. The League has been bought since the Premiership started. Man U went PLC and used the cash to buy players, Blackburn used Jack Walker. Utd were spending tens of millions while City were in the 3rd tier of English football. All that's happened is City are now in a position to equal and even exceed what the big club can pay. It's been that way for City fans since as long as we can remember. Stop being so bitter and prepare for more than a 2 sided Championship. Utd would love to be in our position. We can now contend and build a team - it's called fair. It's just a shame more clubs could not do the same thing.
By Chris.. Posted October 12 2008 at 1:12 PM.
Money is club owners, agents, and footballers God. They don't give a monkey's about genuine local born football fans anymore. Global, Global, Global. Fans get fleeced, and none of the big clubs give a hoot if their stadium if filled with the Prawn Eating Brigade. Player's are filled with greed, and will go anywhere to swell their bank balances. There are very few Bebatov's left, who are truly not motivated just by money. Thank God for the credit crunch. I hope the recession HITS HARD. Then perhaps we can have some sanity back in football, and genuine fans back on the terraces. Fans who would support their local club, come rain or shine. Viva the TRUE football fans, whichever club you support.
By Isaidso.. Posted October 12 2008 at 1:34 PM.
I think the poeple that think Torres will go to city is ridiculous, for a start Liverpool wont sell him, and second. I find it funny that people are considering Man City as a big club haha. Chelsea walked all over them at home, and Liverpool gave them a 2 - 0 start. The sooner the owners walk away the better, because all these silly rumours can stop. They will not get Torres. Everyone says Liverpool talk aout there history but if im right were we not seeded number 1 for champions league draw. And are we not havin a go at the title so far this season. Everyone is jus excited about Man city havin money jus like they were when that other guy took over. The owners will get bored in 2 or 3 years when Man City cant break into top 4.
By Daniel Czepiec.. Posted October 12 2008 at 1:29 PM.
All you dumb twits who think players would only move to big clubs to play Euro football, get a life. Money is the first and foremost point in any action.
All you idiots would do it without no hesitation if you had a chance
By Ayub Khan.. Posted October 12 2008 at 11:58 AM.
Sue
You sound extremely bitter.Blaming Roman for football "greed" is extremely naive.
Football sold its soul to Sky years before Roman and the Arabs came along...
The totally misnomered "Champions league" was a vehicle designed to keep the traditionally "big" clubs,the likes of united Liverpool and Arsenal financially apart from the rest of the Premier league clubs...basically,to maintain the same old monopoly.
And talking of "buying the league" united were spending £25million+on individual players like Ferdinand and Veron long before Roman and the Arabs showed up....
Like I said,don't be so bitter!
By RobbieBrewer.. Posted October 12 2008 at 11:28 AM.
i think its the press saying city going for this player and that player its just their way to get people to hate city the way everyone hate chelski coz the thought of someone else in the top 4 upsets them also i think city will be 2-3yrs off a top 4 spot never mind winning the prem dont beleive evrything you read people id rather hughes spend on a decent LB DM and a new keeper but dont think baffoon is the man 4 us and kaka wont come and same 4 torres id love them their but we need defence to be sorted have enough attacking players
By kev roche.. Posted October 12 2008 at 11:13 AM.
I wouldn't expect any player whose team is still in the Champions League in January to want to move to Man. City. As for Torres at the current moment Liverpool are in the running for the Premier League title and if still there in January, forget him moving.
By Steve.. Posted October 12 2008 at 11:46 AM.
lets face it man city will be very big next season or for sure the season after move over man u fans ...i welcome city and there money ...am a chelsea fan and yes we have money ....but lets not forget man u have been paying over the top for player for years long before chelsea came in to money ....but thats ok to the utd fans they did not moan about it at the time .......as for liverpool fans keep dreaming that you will win something not a hope ....you have chelsea man utd the gunners and soon to be city ....let me think were dose that leave pool outside the top four .......never mind you wont be missed ha ha .......
By shaun.. Posted October 12 2008 at 10:50 AM.
I reckon that man city will win the league in 3 years but after that wat will hppen???
Will they win champ league or will abu dhabi boyz leave coz they r bored wit there toys
lets have a vote i say leave
any1 else???????
By judo john.. Posted October 12 2008 at 10:54 AM.
we proved the other day how rubbish cit ehhh are,hughes wont be in charge for long,top not one united or liverpool player would go to cit ehhh,cockneys would as they dont have passion,face it the two big clubs of the north wont roll over and die,cit ehhh still the joke of manc land..............................................del boy and rodney became very rich and they didnt last,cit ehhh maybe the only team in manchester but that is manchesters loss,you have a fat alchy defender end of,torres is all ours,goodbye and goodnight......
By mick.. Posted October 12 2008 at 11:05 AM.
Who needs Torres when you can have Augero.
Augero, Buffon and Lahm. that is my perdiction for new arrivlals in Jan.
By The Shiekh.. Posted October 12 2008 at 10:17 AM.
Have to agree with Jazz - its people greed that football is where its at today......you have to blame Abramovich and Chelsea in particular!
Clubs buying league title's........don't be fooled into thinking Torres will leave Liverpool....he wont.
No matter how much money Citeh have, any team that Mark Hughes manages will always end up looking like thugs!
By Sue.. Posted October 12 2008 at 9:41 AM.
Colin, it s Mancs, not with a K you dimwit .Liverpool = dump, capital of culture ha ha ha... more culture in a petra dish...tORRES is using Lpool as a stepping stone to a big move in the prem.poor little liverpool, all that history...counts for nothing...cash is king..ur fat spanish waiter has spent £100mil in the last 4 years...absolute garbage manager, only there coz he won the champs league...no chance of winning the leage...
By sherbertfizz.. Posted October 12 2008 at 9:41 AM.
that's insane. big players like them would never join a small club like city. if they did move, then that proves that they only want the money!
By Ellie Palmer.. Posted October 12 2008 at 9:23 AM.
I love these types of stories..
Does anyone really believe that Tores will leave Liverpool for City or that Buffon at his age will contemplate moving to Manchester. Buffon, whilst a great keeper is getting on and hughes will not pay the salary he is supposed to want..
By Hamad Lone.. Posted October 12 2008 at 9:14 AM.
Its fantastic news that Torres is coming to us. He will suit our style of play and fit in well with lads. Everyone new his time at Liverpool would be short and i think he has done well for them but he needs to think of the future e.g winning trophies and lets be honest he wont win anything at liverpool apart from individual player awards. I cant wait to see him with Robinho and Jo pushing forward. Fantastic news
By ian .. Posted October 12 2008 at 8:51 AM.
torres wouldnt go no were the manks,hes not wayne scum bag rooney.dream on manchester.
By colin jones.. Posted October 12 2008 at 7:28 AM.
its good to see another club with the capability of breaking into the top four but to constantly link someone like torres with them is a bit daft. i just cant see him leaving a club he clearly loves to go and join a team not even in the champions league. Man City have no chance of signing players from the top four as City have nothing to offer them apart from good wages.
By richard.. Posted October 12 2008 at 8:01 AM.
Money is wrecking football. SIMPLE AS THAT.
By jazz.. Posted October 12 2008 at 6:11 AM.
Good on Man City its about time they had a change in their fortunes. Even so I hate the fact the the English Football league has now changed for the worst. I am a Liverpool fan and at first I was glad that the Americans had arrived but we have been messed around from day one. These investors have totally ruined the game!!!! I think it's time they all just left the football world and left the running of clubs to the the fans something like what Barcelona have got in place. Investors and reports such as this only unsettle players but in all truth players only seem motivated by money now and contracts are nothin more than a joke to some players e.g Ronaldo. Its about time some rules were put in place so all teams have a fair chance, Finally to back up what I have just said look at West Ham at the moment with no real idea what is going on with the icelandic investors. Absolute anarchy.
By Ray.. Posted October 12 2008 at 3:14 AM.