Curious tales of City signings turned sour
THE TRANSFERS WHO FAILED TO MAKE THEIR MARK WITH THE BLUES
THE act of signing players is never a guaranteed success.
What can seem like a great deal can turn out to be highly regrettable error.
In some instances, the deal seems an odd one before the ink has even dried.
Here’s a look at some of the more curious bits of business done at Etihad in recent years.
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On the surface, the move for Pizarro was understandable as it reunited the midfielder with Man City manager Roberto Mancini. No one doubted Pizarro’s talent. The gifted midfielder was excellent in tight spaces and could pick out a pass, but it never seemed to click for him at City.
He joined City on the last day of the 2012 January window but made only five appearances in the Premier League.
Unfortunately, that meant he did not qualify for a league winners’ medal. He returned to Roma that summer and vowed not to move again.
“I had no intention of leaving AS Roma even in January, but I had a bad relationship with Luis Enrique and then when [Roberto] Mancini called I accepted,” he said at the time. “It was all very sudden. Now,
DAVID PIZARRO
I’m going on vacation, and then I’ll return to Rome. I hope to finish my European career at AS Roma, I still have a one-year contract, and I’m very motivated.”
He later returned to Chile and finished his career in 2018 with Universidad de Chile.
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The winger joined City from Swansea where he had helped guide the club into the Premier League. He was already used to the surroundings of a big club after joining Chelsea early in his career, but he was unable to break through at Stamford Bridge.
SCOTT SINCLAIR
A tricky player that managed eight goals in 38 in the Premier League the season before moving to City, it never felt likely that he would beat out Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri for a starting spot in attack.
Unsurprisingly, he was loaned out to West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa before joining the latter permanently.
He’d later find success with Celtic, winning three league titles, before moving to Preston North End at the start of the year.
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OWEN HARGREAVES
The former England international joined in 2011 after four years at near-neighbours United.
His time at Old Trafford was auspicious but blighted by injuries, which made City’s decision to take a punt on him odd.
Hargreaves was handed a oneyear deal by the club and was initially seen as Yaya Toure’s replacement during the Africa Cup of Nations.
It didn’t quite work out that way as he made just four appearances in total as injuries once again halted his progress.
It should be noted the club had earmarked other central midfield options including Daniele De Rossi and Mark Van Bommel, but when they proved unattainable Hargreaves was chosen.
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RICHARD WRIGHT AND SCOTT CARSON
OK, I hear the comments section shouting at me already, these two veteran stoppers had a purpose at City.
The aim was to pad out the requirements for home grown players in the squad. I get that. Also, it was a bit weird.
Both men left Championship clubs to be the number three at a top club.
City aren’t the only team to do this, (see Chelsea with Rob Green) but it’s just very surreal to see the likes of Scott Carson next to Ederson and Claudio Bravo.
Not to hone in on Carson, after all, he isn’t a bad goalkeeper. He’s a former England international, but it’s hard to understand why City have only loaned him?
Why not push the boat out? Wright’s stint at City is made all the more brilliant by the fact he had a trial at Colchester United before starting his time with the club.
I had no intention of leaving AS Roma but I had a bad relationship with Luis Enrique City transfer David Pizarro