The Spoiler

Chelsea reject another John Terry bid, Michael Owen appears on Dragon’s Den


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What if Michael Owen followed up his glossy brochure with an appearance on Dragon’s Den…
[talkSPORT Magazine]

Chelsea have rejected a £30 million bid from Manchester City for John Terry
[The Guardian]

The Italian press expect Manchester United to bid for Zlatan Ibrahimovic
[Football Italia]

A contentious list of the top ten Bosman buys of all time - was Hull’s Geovanni really a more inspired signing than Champions League winner Henrik Larsson?
[Daily Mail]

Man United fans aren’t too excited about the prospect of signing Michael Owen
[Republik of Mancunia]

Arsene Wenger thinks Emmanuel Adebayor will stay this summer
[Sky Sports]

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Posted: July 3rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn

Manchester United eye a Brazilian striker, Sol Campbell linked with Newcastle


The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Luis Fabiano

Luis Fabiano to Manchester United
While Michael Owen stories have dominated today’s back pages, The Daily Mirror claim that Manchester United are offering Sevilla £16 million to try to beat AC Milan to the signing of Brazil striker Fabiano.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Fans probably wouldn’t be too happy to see Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez replaced solely by Antonio Valencia and Owen so it is plausible, especially considering the latter’s injury record, that Sir Alex Ferguson will want another attacking option.

Yuri Zhirkov to Chelsea
Chelsea completed their first summer signing last night, bringing in Middlesbrough’s reserve keeper Ross Turnbull - who conceded seven goals

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Posted: July 3rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn

Roque Santa Cruz reveals why he joined Man City, Cristiano Ronaldo talks about Kaka


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Darius Vassell mobbed by fans
Manchester City reject Darius Vassell receives a surreal hero’s welcome at new club Ankaragucu - click the link for more amazing photos
[Blue Moon]

Maicon’s agent is expecting Real Madrid to make a move for the right-back
[Goal]

Cristiano Ronaldo is looking forward to playing with Kaka next season
[The Sun]

Sol Campbell is linked with Everton and Aston Villa after leaving Portsmouth
[Daily Telegraph]

Roque Santa Cruz joined Manchester City for the money Mark Hughes fans
[Sporting Life]

What business are Spurs planning to do in the transfer market this summer?
[Interestment]

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Posted: July 2nd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn

Manchester City priced out of move for defender, Aston Villa linked with winger


The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Joleon Lescott

Stewart Downing to Aston Villa
The Spoiler assumed that replacing Martin Laursen and Gareth Barry would be Aston Villa’s priority right now but apparently not. The Daily Mail claim that Martin O’Neill is looking to thwart Spurs (and they sure will be heartbroken!) by signing Downing on a loan deal with an option to make the move permanent.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: This has to be nonsense. Villa have a lot of work to do this summer and bringing in someone who plays in the same position as their star player Ashley Young is surely not top of the agenda.

Joleon Lescott staying with Everton
The Daily Star
report that Manchester City have been priced out of a move for

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Posted: July 2nd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn

Carlos Tevez has finally made a decision, AC Milan ignore Emmanuel Adebayor


A further helping of transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez to Manchester City
Goal claim to have heard from an unnamed source that Tevez has chosen Man City over Chelsea and that the deal will be finalised next Monday, which is when Cristiano Ronaldo is scheduled to be officially unveiled at Real Madrid.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Confirming the capture of Tevez on the same day that Ronaldo is presented at the Bernabeu would be City’s way of firing out a warning to their neighbours that the tide is turning.

Luis Fabiano to AC Milan
Emmanuel Adebayor is no longer even a secondary target for AC Milan, who have chosen to chase Confederations Cup top-scorer Luis Fabiano after being

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Posted: July 1st, 2009 by Michael Lintorn

Are Manchester City about to launch a reality TV show?


Nouveau riche club ink deal with the folks behind Big Brother

Robinho and Dogface

Since becoming executive chairman of Manchester City last year, Garry Cook was been extolling his vision of a sky blue utopia to anyone who would listen. If his global domination plans come to pass, we will all enjoy tasty blue food at Manchester City themed restaurants, which we will drive to in Manchester City cars listening to Manchester City Band (the re-branded name for Oasis).

The Citizens have started taking baby steps towards embedding themselves into our lives by focusing their energies on the media. Today, the club relaunch their official website in English and Arabic (at the time of writing, it’s down thanks to a bug), and tomorrow, they will seal a deal with Endemol, the Dutch TV production behemoth that will help the club compete commercially on a global basis with the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester Utd.

Endemol Sport’s Managing Director Gregg Oldfield has explained how his company will help put sky blue shirts on backs all over the world:

“Manchester City is one of the most exciting clubs in the Premier League today. They have great global ambition and potential, and we both share the same vision in building a modern, multi-media experience for City fans worldwide.The Middle East is very important for obvious reasons and we’ll also target Asia and Latin America.”

Endemol produce some fine programming in the UK, including but not limited to The Sex Education vs Pornography, Coleen’s Real Women and the highly lauded Snog, Marry Avoid.

Their flagship show is Big Brother, so don’t be surprised if City players are eventually forced to spend their summers trapped in a house with nothing but whirring cameras and Craig Bellamy’s foul temper for company…

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Posted: July 1st, 2009 by Ryan Bailey

Samuel Eto’o wants to stay at Barcelona, Xabi Alonso is keeping his options open


A further helping of transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Samuel Eto’o

Samuel Eto’o is going to snub Manchester City
Today’s papers are filled with talk of Eto’o moving to Eastlands for a pay packet ranging between £180,000-a-week and £250,000 depending on which tabloid, if any, you choose to believe. However, the striker’s agent has said: ”If there is not a 180-degree turnaround then he will stay with Barcelona.”

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: It looks like the 28-year-old isn’t interested in missing out on Champions League football in favour of more money, which is impressive considering he was linked with a move to Uzbekistan last summer.

Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid
The Liverpool midfielder is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding his future. The Spaniard told Don Balon magazine that he is happy to stay at

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Posted: June 29th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn

Samuel Eto’o to rent Andrew Flintoff’s £2.5m mansion


Freddie to get a “super lodger” in his posh pad

Andrew Flintoff

As Samuel Eto’o inches closer to earning £192,000-a-week after tax at Manchester City, The Mirror are reporting that he has already organised some suitable accommodation for his family in northern England.

Freddie Flintoff owns a £2.5m mansion in Hale, but has since has moved his family to another home in the relatively-nearby Cheshire village of Mottram St Andrew (on land once owned by Mark Hughes). Hence, the Lancashire all-rounder is now looking for a lodger who is happy to piss away an outrageous amount of rent:

Barcelona ace Eto’o is set to move into a Georgian style house in the plush village of Hale owned by cricket ace Flintoff, who is renting out the property for around £20,000-a-month - a fraction of Eto’o’s £200,000-a-week wages.

The Spoiler is a little confused as to why Eto’o would rent a place in England, when he could easily afford to buy one outright. Is he waiting for market conditions to improve, or is he not looking to stay on our tiny island for very long?

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Posted: June 29th, 2009 by Ryan Bailey