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Thursday Kickoff: Inter hoping to sign Yaya Toure; Alan Pulido set for Greece; and more

YayaToureManchesterCity1-Sunderland2014EPL (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

Roberto Mancini is hoping to be reunited this summer with one of the best midfielders in the English Premier League.

The Inter Milan boss has revealed his interest in signing Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure during the summer transfer window. Mancini originally brought Toure to the Etihad Stadium in 2010 back when the Italian was Man City boss.

“Yaya is one of the strongest players in the world,” Mancini told the Italian newspaper Il Giornale. “He still is. He has played in so many teams. He has been in leagues in Belgium, Russia, Spain and England. Italy is the one missing. This could be the right opportunity for him to come and try.

“We are building a team. There are players that change the look of a team, and Yaya is one of them. Next year we could try. We need to bring three champions, and we will see that we will be ready to fight for the scudetto.”

Mancini took over for Walter Mazzari last November but Inter have remained mired in mid-table life in Serie A. They’re currently in 10th place in the league, one place ahead of arch rivals AC Milan.

Here are some more stories to kick off your Thursday:

PULIDO’S NIGHTMARE COULD BE OVER

Alan Pulido’s time away from the field could finally be coming to an end.

The Mexican National Team forward announced on his Twitter account that he’s signed for Greek Superleague side Levadiakos. Pulido hasn’t played a game for the last eight months due to an on-going contract dispute with his club, Tigres UANL.

Tigres UANL still made it to the Apertura finals even without Pulido, but he was coming off a breakout 2013/2014 season, scoring 14 goals in 36 games and earning a call-up to El Tri. He was included in their World Cup squad, but didn’t make an appearance. He scored four goals in six friendly matches for El Tri in 2014.

BAYERN LOSE RIBERY, RAFINHA FOR TWO WEEKS

One day before the Bundesliga season restarts, Bayern have been handed a blow with two of their first team players picking up injuries.

French winger Franck Ribery has torn a muscle in his right thigh, the club announced, and will miss the club’s next three matches. At the same time, right back Rafinha has sprained his left ankle and will miss the next two weeks as he recovers.

Ribery is expected to return to training in the next few days, but he’ll have to work up his fitness again and prove that his thigh has healed before he can join full training.

Bayern have a grueling schedule in the next two weeks with three league games in nine days. They kick off the second half of the season at Wolfsburg on Friday before hosting Schalke on Tuesday and then visiting Stuttgart on Feb. 7.

QUICK KICKS

Mario Balotelli’s agent has revealed that he’s advised Balotelli to stay at Liverpool and fight for his place in the squad. (REPORT)

AC Milan are set to complete the signing of AS Roma forward Mattia Destro on Friday, joining on a €700,000 season-long loan with a €16 million option to buy. (REPORT)

Real Madrid are set to rename the Estadio Bernabeu after selling naming rights to an Abu Dhabi consortium for a reported €500 million. (REPORT)

Boca Juniors are working on signing Inter Milan, Southampton, and AS Roma misfit Dani Osvaldo. (REPORT)

Real Madrid are also keen on 19-year-old Valencia full back Jose Luis Gaya. (REPORT)

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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Toure leaving Man City this summer? Do you see Pulido succeeding in Europe?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Actually, Donetsk where Yaya Toure played is still in Ukraine, unless it’s some sort of a political statement by Putin-loving Macini….

    Reply
  2. two players that i would have loved to at least hear MLS was rumored or trying to get; Toure and Pulido. probably a bit out of reach for now.

    Reply

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