City set up £36m deal for Benfica star to replace Robinho

• Poignant

  15 Nov 09, 17:26

  CITY SET UP £36M DEAL FOR BENFICA STAR

  Argentinian can be Robinho's replacement

  

  DI MARIA: One of Manchester City's top targets

  
  

  

  MANCHESTER CITY have agreed a £36million deal to sign Benfica's Angel Di Maria in January.

   

  Although contract negotiations are not finalised, City are confident they will bring the in-form midfielder to Eastlands.

  The Argentina star has been identified by Mark Hughes as a long-term successor for Robinho.

  The Benfica playmaker, 21, has emerged as the inspiration behind the free-scoring Portuguese side's quest for the Europa League and their domestic title.

  City are believed to have spoken to Benfica and the player's representatives in South America about doing a deal for as early as the next transfer window.

  They had hoped to land Di Maria for less than the quoted price but a clause in his contract, which runs until 2015, says he cannot leave for less than £36m. He has been brought to the attention of Premier League clubs after twice starring in victories over Everton in Europe.

  Chelsea have also been eyeing him this season but are not likely to meet the asking price.

  Di Maria's arrival would certainly spell the end of Robinho's time at City, although he will have to wait for the summer for a move to Barcelona.

  He was told there would be no January exit during talks with chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak during the club's trip to Abu Dhabi. Khaldoon believes his return to fitness will help the club's Champions League ambitions. But boss Mark Hughes remains indifferent to the Brazilian.

• Poignant

  15 Nov 09, 21:00

  

  this young man here have some good stats.

• Rooney9

  15 Nov 09, 21:02

  is he even worth 10m much less 36m

• Poignant

  15 Nov 09, 21:04

  in my fm game, bordeaux bought him for only 3.2m

• Poignant

  15 Nov 09, 21:05

  it's 3 POINT 2, not 32

• iceFatboy

  16 Nov 09, 13:02

  Originally posted by Rooney9:

  is he even worth 10m much less 36m

  with the money city got, 36m is like $36 to them la.. cheap cheap..

• Rooney9

  16 Nov 09, 13:27

  Originally posted by iceFatboy:

  with the money city got, 36m is like $36 to them la.. cheap cheap..

  ya haha. but he is an unknown. quite a risky investment on a S American player, who dunno can adapt to the hustle and bustle of EPL football. remember that veron and forlan?

• Poignant

  17 Nov 09, 21:34

  Man City target Di Maria is Man Utd mad!

  Manchester City target Angel di Maria admits he's a Manchester United fan!

  City are prepared to pay Di Maria's £36 million buyout clause to sign him from Benfica.

  Chelsea and Liverpool are also reported to be interested in the 21-year-old. But the player admits he has his heart set on a dream move to Old Trafford.

  He said: “Since I was 13 or 14 years old, I’ve been telling my mother and my father that my dream is to play some day for Manchester United.

  “And I won’t stop till I get it.

  “When I watch [Wayne] Rooney and all of them on TV, I can’t wait to play there at Old Trafford.

  “When I was a little boy I watched Arsenal games as well, but Manchester United always dazzled me most.”

• Rooney9

  17 Nov 09, 21:41

  come join man united instead

• mlmersrlosers

  19 Nov 09, 08:37

  Originally posted by Poignant:

  

  this young man here have some good stats.

  
  nice of you providing some visual guides =)

• mlmersrlosers

  19 Nov 09, 08:38

  Originally posted by Rooney9:

  come join man united instead

  
  he can replace nani

• the Bear

  19 Nov 09, 08:42

  maybe he thinks he's going to MUFC?

  sort of like Robino thought he was going to MUFC? 

• mlmersrlosers

  19 Nov 09, 09:03

  Maria: Since I was 13 or 14 years old, I’ve been telling my mother and my father that my dream is to play some day for Manchester United.

  “And I won’t stop till I get it.

  “When I watch [Wayne] Rooney and all of them on TV, I can’t wait to play there at Old Trafford.

  “When I was a little boy I watched Arsenal games as well, but Manchester United always dazzled me most.”

   

  Hughes: stfu...