City director of football Txiki Begiristain had identified the Portugal centre-half as a replacement for Kolo Toure, who has signed for Liverpool following the expiry of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, and there had been growing confidence at the club that a deal could be struck with Real for the 30 year-old.
However, newly-appointed Real manager Ancelotti has ensured further transfer frustration for City this summer by informing club president Florentino Perez that he wants to retain Pepe's experience rather than sanction his £12m sale. With Real beating City to the signature of Malaga winger Isco, and the Spanish club also keen to sign Edinson Cavani from Napoli, Manuel Pellegrini began pre-season training at City on Monday with just two additions - midfielder Fernandinho and winger Jesus Navas - to the squad left behind by previous manager Roberto Mancini.
And although City retain an interest in the Sevilla forward Alvaro Negredo, it is understood that no deal is close, despite reports in Spain that an agreement has already been struck between the two clubs for the Spain international.
Ancelotti's decision to block Pepe's move could signal a reprieve for England defender Joleon Lescott, whose future at the Etihad is uncertain due to the club so far failing to offer an extension to the final 12 months of his contract. With Toure leaving for Liverpool, however, Pellegrini is left with just three recognised centre-halves in Lescott, Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic and, while Micah Richards has previously performed in that position, his future is currently viewed as a full-back.
City are prepared to listen to offers in the region of £5m for Lescott, a £22m buy from Everton in 2009, but while the 30-year-old is determined to secure regular football in order to safeguard his prospects of playing at next year’s World Cup should England qualify, he remains keen to stay at City should the club make moves to extend his current deal beyond next summer.
Lescott and the rest of the City squad are due to fly to South Africa on Wednesday evening for the opening leg of their summer tour, with the club aware of the potential for disruption should Nelson Mandela’s health deteriorate further in the coming days.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city/10168138/Manchester-City-abandon-Pepe-pursuit.html [ 此帖被barrin在2013-07-09 19:52重新編輯 ]
