The fever seems unstoppable in buying Manchester City. In recent weeks, the English club has strengthened its staff in such a way that has become one of the favorites for the title of champion of the Premier League, which begins on Saturday.
Its new acquisitions are Paraguayan Roque Santa Cruz (from Blackburn), Argentine Carlos Tevez (who comes from Manchester United), Emmanuel Adebayor and the Togolese defender Kolo Toure (both Arsenal) and the English midfielder Gareth Barry (Aston Villa's ).
The now famous quintet cost about $ 157 million, but it appears that the purchases will not end there and that "citizens" feel strengthened further before the transfer deadline at the end of August.
All this is possible thanks to the philosophy that "money does not matter" that owns the club since September 2008: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the royal family of Abu Dhabi, whose personal fortune is estimated at one trillion dollars.
Compared to these Sifra, 20,000 dollars is estimated that the assets of the Russian oligarch and Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, seem little.
But for Real Madrid and its new edition of the "galactic" with Cristino Ronaldo, Kaka and company, which cost 250 million euros (about $ 286 million), the small City, which since 1976 does not win any title would set a record.
"A small-minded small club", was angered Sir Alex Ferguson, the coach of Manchester United, the great rival of the city and champion of England.
Ferguson complained that the City placed in the center of the city after the signing of Tevez great Argentine retatro of which read "Welcome to Manchester."
Now we will have to wait and see if all these charges and transfers sufficient to meet the objective of becoming "one of the biggest clubs in world" within a few years, the goal of Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
On his way to the desired height, the Manchester City will have to first break the supremacy of the "big four": Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. In recent years, these teams always disputed with each other fighting for the championship and qualifying for the Champions League.
But first, the coach of the City, Mark Hughes, who won more titles as a player that the City throughout its history, yet to be converted into a cohesive team to that handful of stars.
The "citizens" only last year managed to place tenth in the table despite the expensive signing of Brazilian international Robinho from Real Madrid.
Except Touré, other players have helped to improve the City's great weakness: defense. The fit 50 goals last season.
Similarly, large British stars such as Chelsea's captain and the selection, John Terry, and from abroad, such as Samuel Eto'o and Kaká, declined the offers and chose the City of Chelsea, Real Madrid or Inter Milan, respectively.
