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Manchester City step up Cirigliano pursuit with River Plate chief set for talks
Dec 16, 2012 8:11:00 AM
The 20-year-old has been monitored by the Premier League champions for a couple of seasons, and could be available as the Buenos Aires outfit look to cash in on their prize talent
EXCLUSIVEBy Greg Stobart
Manchester City are set for talks with River Plate president Daniel Passarella over a potential move for long-term target Ezequiel Cirigliano.
Goal.com understands that the River supremo is likely to arrive in Manchester over the coming days tasked with raising funds for the Buenos Aires outfit, and is aware of City's interest in the defensive midfielder.
Cirigliano, 20, has played over 40 times for the Argentine giants, becoming a first-team regular following their relegation to Nacional B in 2011.
The combative midfielder has been described as the new Javier Mascherano in some quarters, and according to agent Rodrigo Vilarino, has been on City's radar for a couple of years.
"City have been following Ezequiel since the start of 2010, when they sent him an invitation to England for a 20-day trial," he told Ole in May.
Passarella is aware of interest from City in the starlet, and it is understood that he will meet with a number of clubs on the continent with River keen on raising funds from their most highly sought-after talent.
Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United have also been linked with the defensive midfielder in the past, while City reserve team coach Attilio Lombardo is said to have been keeping close tabs on Cirigliano when he worked as a scout before replacing Andy Walsh as second-string coach at Carrington earlier in 2012.
Cirigliano would be the fourth Argentine to join City's squad if a deal was to be secured, with compatriots Pablo Zabaleta, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez having all started in the Premier League champions' 3-1 victory away to Newcastle on Sunday.
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
8:49 PM BST
The second half is just under way, but just to give you the thoughts of three-time World Referee Of The Year Markus Merk, who is working the game for Sky Germany tonight. He spotted an elbow by Ribery on Lewandowski that he feels could easily have resulted in the Frenchman being dismissed.
"Ribery was very lucky," he argued. "If the referee judges this as an intentional act, he can easily give a red card. I cannot understand why a player like Franck Ribery behaves like this in a Champions League final."
"Ribery was very lucky," he argued. "If the referee judges this as an intentional act, he can easily give a red card. I cannot understand why a player like Franck Ribery behaves like this in a Champions League final."
8:43 PM BST
Jay Jaffa is watching the game surrounded by German fans and he's picked up what he has described himself as a tremendously "precise" prediction from one supporter.
"We've had boos, moans and groans throughout the half from fans unhappy with Bayern's resurgence. The loudest cheers of all have been saved for Roman Weidenfeller though, after two exceptional saves from Arjen Robben. There's no doubt, in this pub at least, that the support lies with Dortmund and a friendly chap named Andreas believes BVB will come out on top, insisting: 'We will get stronger as the game goes on and Lewandowski will score in the final 10 minutes.' About as precise a prediction as you can get!"
"We've had boos, moans and groans throughout the half from fans unhappy with Bayern's resurgence. The loudest cheers of all have been saved for Roman Weidenfeller though, after two exceptional saves from Arjen Robben. There's no doubt, in this pub at least, that the support lies with Dortmund and a friendly chap named Andreas believes BVB will come out on top, insisting: 'We will get stronger as the game goes on and Lewandowski will score in the final 10 minutes.' About as precise a prediction as you can get!"
8:40 PM BST
Bayern have really come into the game and have had some great chances, but, for my money, Dortmund shaded that opening 45 minutes. They also shaded the poll Goal ran on Facebook earlier. We asked you who would win at Wembley tonight and 55 per cent of you sided with the underdogs. It really will be fascinating to see if Klopp's men can pull this off in the second half, which is just five minutes away.
8:36 PM BST
Half-time at Wembley and we're still scoreless. Quite how is beyond me, because both sides have had some wonderful chances but both Neuer and Weidenfeller have proven unbeatable up until this point. It really does look like it's going to take something special to break the deadlock.
Arjen Robben has looked the man most likely, having had two one-on-ones already, but Goal Germany's Tim Rohn says the Dutchman has annoyed his team-mates no end during that opening 45 minutes.
"There were two chances in which Robben should have passed into the middle. But he decided to take both himself - without success. Mandzukic was furious on one occasion, while Muller just shook his head. Robben's selfishness pleases only Dortmund's fans."
Arjen Robben has looked the man most likely, having had two one-on-ones already, but Goal Germany's Tim Rohn says the Dutchman has annoyed his team-mates no end during that opening 45 minutes.
"There were two chances in which Robben should have passed into the middle. But he decided to take both himself - without success. Mandzukic was furious on one occasion, while Muller just shook his head. Robben's selfishness pleases only Dortmund's fans."
8:31 PM BST
WEIDENFELLER SAVES WITH HIS FACE! Robben gets in on goal again, this time after Hummels fails to deal with a long ball over the top. The Dutch winger lets rip but Weidenfeller gets his mush in the way and the ball flies away to safety. The Dortmund shot-stopper knew little about that but, you have to say, both goalkeepers have done wonderfully well thus far to keep this one scoreless.
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