Bianchi in bag - now for Barca pair
Chris Bailey
13/ 7/2007
ITALIAN Rolando Bianchi has become Sven Goran Eriksson's first signing and the Blues boss will now turn his attention to a double swoop on Barcelona.
Twenty-four-year-old Bianchi completed his medical and agreed terms on his four year stay.
His arrival has blown a £9m hole City's transfer kitty and that pile of cash could be reduced further by Eriksson's bid to bring Ludovic Giuly and Thiago Motta to Manchester.
Although Bianchi was a success in Serie A last season when his 18 goals were the main reason that Reggina avoided relegation, his record at Atalanta and Cagliari was mixed and making him his first signing - the second most expensive in the club's history after Nicolas Anelka - is a gamble by Eriksson.
The Italian will not feature at Doncaster but will travel to Sweden for next week's mini tour.
The striker revealed the personal touch from the City boss had persuaded him a move to England was right for him.
"Mr Eriksson called me personally and told me he wanted me at any cost," Bianchi said.
"He told me 'Come and we will be watched by 50,000 fans every Saturday and we want to be in Europe'. When he just mentioned the word Europe, I had a big feeling."
Eriksson will now try to persuade Giuly and Motta to experience life in the Premiership.
After being left out of the French World Cup squad in favour of Franck Ribery many expected Giuly, whose many nicknames include ‘the Magic Imp’, to seek a new challenge and Eriksson is out to convince him that should be with City.
Motta who is known for his uncompromising defensive midfield performances is seen as an ideal replacement for Joey Barton.
The 25-year-old has been told he has no long term future at Barcelona after playing just five La Liga games and half a dozen in the Champions League last season.
A full international for Brazil and a one club man, Motta has already publicly declared that he would prefer a move to England where he believes the style and speed of play suits his game perfectly.
Eriksson, who told MEN Sport on the day he signed his contract that he would ‘open his eyes worldwide’ in the search for the best players for City is also monitoring the form of Mexico striker Nery Castillo, a player whose associates have been touting his charge around top European clubs.
The 23-year-old striker is the right age for the Blues and has proved himself potent in front of goal at Olympiacos in Greece where he has scored 30 goals at one every three matches.
He has also been taking the eye at international level for Mexico, most recently in the current Copa America scoring against Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay as his country tasted early success.
Castillo, who also managed three goals in six games in the Champions League last season, has an Italian mother and came close to joining United as a youngster only to have his trial stopped by work permit problems. That would not be a problem now though an unruffled Eriksson will not be rushed into transfer moves.
He has told the club’s top brass that there is no need to panic in the search for talent.