Manchester City angry with agent over Gareth Barry link to Napoli

Posted Thursday, July 07, 2011 by theguardian.com

• Roberto Mancini's agent said Gareth Barry could join Napoli
• Agent hinted that Napoli want Barry in Ezequiel Lavezzi deal

Manchester City angry with agent over Gareth Barry link to Napoli
Manchester City said in a statement that 'Gareth Barry remains a valued member of the team'.

Manchester City have issued an official rebuttal to claims from Roberto Mancini's agent that Gareth Barry could be used as the bait in a player-plus-cash exchange with Napoli's Ezequiel Lavezzi.

The Argentinian is among the list of forwards, including Sergio Agüero, who have been discussed behind the scenes at Eastlands, with Mancini keen to bring in at least one more attacking player even if Carlos Tevez remains at the club.

The FA Cup winners are still evaluating which players to prioritise in the wake of their unsuccessful attempt to sign Alexis Sánchez from Udinese.

City, therefore, have been taken aback by the comments from Giorgio De Giorgis that they and Napoli have "been negotiating for the past few months". Lavezzi, who is under contract until 2015, has a release clause of ¤30m (£26.8m) and Giorgis, describing it as "excessive", suggested Barry could be used as a makeweight. "Manchester City could include a player in the deal, but I don't know which player could interest Napoli. The only one could be Barry, who is an England international and does not have a high salary."

Those remarks have not gone down well at City, with senior figures perplexed about Giorgis's motives for identifying Barry, a regular player under Mancini, and particularly unimpressed about the way the manager's agent has spoken without consideration for the unsettling effects it could have on the midfielder.

"Mr Giorgis is not mandated by the football club to deal with transfers, in or out, at Manchester City," a club spokesperson said. "Furthermore, there is no intention to sell Gareth Barry, who remains a valued member of the team."

Despite the disappointment of Sánchez, City's summer business is accelerating with Stefan Savic, a 20-year-old centre‑half, completing his move from Partizan Belgrade to become the club's second arrival this week, following the £7m signing of Arsenal's Gaël Clichy. Savic, a Montenegro international who played in the 0-0 draw with England at Wembley in October, has cost another £6m, though that could rise to £9m with add-ons.