Owen Hargreaves signs for Manchester City
-
Hargreaves heads to noisy neighbours as City make incredible move for United crock
City slicker: Owen Hargreaves leaves the Bridgewater Hospital after undergoing a three-hour medical ahead of his shock move to Manchester City
Owen Hargreaves is on the brink of a sensational move to Manchester City.
After being discarded by arch rivals Manchester United this summer, the injury-ravaged midfielder is set to sign a one-year deal at the Etihad Stadium. He is expected to be unveiled later on Tuesday.
Hargreaves was pictured leaving the Bridgewater Hospital in Manchester at Tuesday lunchtime after three hours of tests.
He is now expected to join big-spending City in the most astonishing of the transfer window.
Hargreaves exclusively told Sportsmail on Saturday how he was confident of playing 40 games this season and making a late bid for England's squad for Euro 2012.
Tottenham and Aston Villa had joined West Bromwich Albion in the chase for the former England midfielder.
But it now appears that Roberto Mancini is set to complete his most fascinating transfer of the summer at the Barclays Premier League title chasers.
Crossing the divide: Free agent Hargreaves will look to rebuild his career at the Etihad Stadium after an injury ravaged spell at Old Trafford
After sealing his £24million move for Samir Nasri last week, Mancini was told he could only bring players in on loan or on free transfers.
And after failing to lure Holland veteran Mark van Bommel away from AC Milan, he has now turned to Hargreaves.
The Canadian-born man, who joined United for £17m from Bayern Munich in 2007, is expected to fill a bit-part role like the one Patrick Vieira filled last season.
However, if his predictions given in an interview to Sportmail's Matt Lawton prove correct, he could emerge as the signing of the summer.
Walking away: Manchester United released England international Hargreaves earlier this summer
Hargreaves exclusively told Sportsmail last week: 'I'm going to blow people away.
'I'm coming back believing I can return to the level I was at before. My body feels great and my knees are perfect.
'I've just got this huge chip on my shoulder because I've been out for three years and people think I'm dead and buried.
I'd like to think I can play 40 games this season and with the right care I believe I can train every day.
'I hope to be back in the England side for the European Championship next summer. You have to have ambition.'
At England training on Tuesday, his former team-mate Wayne Rooney said: 'He's been out for a couple of years now and worked hard to try and get back. Hopefully he does get back playing. He's a great player.'
Fitness first: Hargreaves posted videos on YouTube earlier this summer to show he is back in top condition
-
Sad to see him go....fergie battled hard for his signature. He could have been a legend if not for his injuries. Such a determined athlete.
-
think he will tell mancini of fergie tactics and choice of personnel if Mancini were to ask him. he will use his insider information of fergie mind.
-
He has been away from the squad for the last 2, 3 years spending his time in Canada, USA & Europe trying to cure his knees... Doubt he will know much especially with the new and younger players...
-
whatever the reason, his best days as a top notch footballer is over. not to mention he is injury prone and his knees are dodgy.
-
what Mcity is hoping for him is the same as MU for owen.. both owens..
-
mancini seems to make it a point to do this once a year.
viera last season and now hargreaves. who will he sign next season?
-
This could be Hargreaves last chance to prove he can still play and play at its highest level...
I feel he had to leave United for his own good cos he became to comfortable that he didn't see the need to challenge for a place or start anymore... He was getting his weekly salary, his medical bills were being covered by United... So there was no serious need or real motivation to step out of his comfort zone...
There were just too many times when news of Fergie wanting or expecting to start him but at the end, it came to nothing. And this was mostly due to his own mental state. I recalled reading Fergie said Hargreaves was ok and the United doctors gave him the go ahead only for him to pull out in the last minute cos he felt he wasn't ready yet...
So I feel Hargreaves needed to be push or motivate otherwise he wouldn't dare to step forward again... 2, 3 years of operations after operations, left leg, right leg, and the pain he had to endure as well as not being able to walk properly all these while may put a fear factor into his head. He probably would reconsider going in for those tough tackles or challenges if he was still at United... But now, without a club anymore and no one to foot his medical bills, he is forced to step out of his comfort zone for the first time in a few years if he still wants to play...
I guess leaving United could be a good thing for him as he needed to get his head in order... Sometimes being force to leave ones comfort zone may be just the thing to get him started again...
I recalled he was a great defensive midfielder, probably one of the best i have seen... Unfortunely, having reach 30... Even if he wasn't injured, his legs would be gone or almost gone by now especially for someone who is known for his stamina and quick movement around the centre of the pitch...
Hopefully he will pick himself up and be able to play again... But if he joint City cos he wanted to play in the CL, then i think he will be disappointed as City didn't include him in their CL squad that means he won't be part of it at least for the group stages for now... And anyone hoping to see the old Hargreaves back again, I think that would be a little over optimistic...
-
Originally posted by dragg:
mancini seems to make it a point to do this once a year.
viera last season and now hargreaves. who will he sign next season?
well, at least viera brought him a Nasri... perhaps hargreaves a nani???