IT’S becoming almost customary to begin my midweek sports round-up with the ever-giving gift that is the current Manchester City squad, again nothing changes.
Reports suggest that the dispute between Carlos Tevez and his employer has cost the moody forward £9.3m in wages, fines and lost bonuses.
“As things stand, AC Milan are not an option for Carlos.”
The Argentinian outcast has not been paid his wages, estimated at north of £200,000, since the end of November, as well as being fined £1.2m for gross misconduct over his refusal to return from South America. The figure also includes £6m in lost loyalty bonuses rescinded for repeated transfer requests.
It’s difficult to feel sorry for Carlito, who signed his five-year-silly-money contract in 2009 but has since decided he doesn’t really fancy it in Manchester anymore, who is insisting his transfer requests have got nothing to do with money.
Unfortunately for Tevez, his preferred move to AC Milan looks to have fallen through after City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak suggested that the Italian club had spoken to the striker before agreeing a deal with the club. He said: “As things stand, AC Milan are not an option for Carlos.”
The whole ordeal hasn’t played out particularly well for Tevez, and one can only hope that he is genuine when he claims his transfer fiasco did not begin as a Rooney-esque ploy for more dough. Wayne got a big fat new contract, Carlos has so far lost £9.3m.
City’s second most controversial striker, Mario Balotelli, could be forced out of English football if he continues to suffer from what he perceives to be unfair treatment, according to his agent, Mino Raiola.
Balotelli is facing a four-match ban after being charged with violent conduct by the FA after he appeared to stamp on Scott Parker during City’s 3-2 win over Spurs on Sunday.
Raiola said: “Obviously if he's being banned every three or four games for one reason or another we cannot go on like that,” reinforcing his players tag line ‘why always me’ wonderfully in a move that more seasoned cynics may suspect as a nice little PR move from team Balotelli in playing the victim.
Here's a pic taken today on shaky camera-phone of the delightful Mario parking all over the place to pick up pizzas from San Carlo.
Off the field City have the more urgent issue of a League Cup semi-final to take care of, as they face Liverpool at Anfield tonight.
Vincent Kompany will serve the last of his four-match ban as City attempt to rescue a 1-0 deficit from the first leg, whilst Balotelli will also miss the game through suspension if City do not appeal his ban before 6pm.
A Steven Gerrard penalty currently separates the sides, and with Andy Carroll expected to head the reds attack, don’t expect much in the way of adventurism from Kenny Dalglish’s side.
Macclesfield lost ground to AFC Wimbledon in League Two’s battle for mid-table obscurity after Sammy Moore’s eighty eighth minute winner for The Dons at The Cherry Reds Record Stadium.
Mattis had put the visitors ahead after Shaun Brisley teed him up to slot home, but Billy Knott leveled with a superb long-range effort before Moore fired home late in the game.
Stockport County gained a vital point in their bid for survival after coming from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw with AFC Telford at Edgeley Park.
Chris Sharp and Steve Jones gave Telford a two-goal advantage by the break but County took full advantage of a Phil Trainer red card in the second half, as goals from Daniel O’Donnell and Carl Piergianni gave the Conference side a share of the spoils.
Follow David on Twitter @DavidPMccourt
