Manchester City’s delight at signing Adam Johnson, the England Under-21 winger, from Middlesbrough on Monday night was tempered by the collapse of a bid to buy McDonald Mariga from Parma.
City had agreed a £7 million fee last week with the Italian club for Mariga, the Kenya midfield player, but despite spending three days preparing their case for a work permit, the Premier League club’s appeal was rejected in less than ten minutes at a hearing in London yesterday, much to their dismay.
Mariga had also been tracked throughout the transfer window by José Mourinho, the Inter Milan coach, and, with the City deal dead in the water, the Italian club moved swiftly to sign the player.
City had also hoped to sign Fernando Gago, the Real Madrid midfield player, but the Spanish club refused to allow him to join on loan until the end of the season, even though City had promised to sign him permanently for €17 million (about £14.8 million) in the summer.
Manchester City frustrated as McDonald Mariga joins Inter Milan | Manchester City – Times Online: “Manchester City’s delight at signing Adam Johnson, the England Under-21 winger, from Middlesbrough on Monday night was tempered by the collapse of a bid to buy McDonald Mariga from Parma.
City had agreed a £7 million fee last week with the Italian club for Mariga, the Kenya midfield player, but despite spending three days preparing their case for a work permit, the Premier League club’s appeal was rejected in less than ten minutes at a hearing in London yesterday, much to their dismay.
Mariga had also been tracked throughout the transfer window by José Mourinho, the Inter Milan coach, and, with the City deal dead in the water, the Italian club moved swiftly to sign the player.
City had also hoped to sign Fernando Gago, the Real Madrid midfield player, but the Spanish club refused to allow him to join on loan until the end of the season, even though City had promised to sign him permanently for €17 million (about £14.8 million) in the summer.”
