City set their sights on former United flop Forlan
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Your support makes all the difference.It may not have quite the same impact as the signing of Kaka, David Villa or Lionel Messi, but Manchester City have identified the former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan as a serious target this summer.
The Uruguayan, 30, became a cult figure at Old Trafford during his time there from January 2002 to July 2004 and although he has attracted derision elsewhere he has since established himself as one of the leading strikers in La Liga. An eager worker who has outshone his Atletico Madrid strike partner Sergio Aguero on many occasions this season, he is a different prospect from the man who signed for United from Independiente in Argentina.
Forlan famously took 24 Premier League games before he scored his first goal for United; this season he is in contention for the golden boot in Spain with 28 goals – one fewer than the leading goalscorer, Samuel Eto'o. Contracted until 2011, he gives City an option should Valencia's asking price for Villa be too great once again.
Although he was a figure of fun for much of his two and a half years at the club, Sir Alex Ferguson had originally signed him because he feared Forlan was about to join Middlesbrough where Steve McClaren had recently taken over. He scored two goals against Liverpool in December 2002 and the winner against Chelsea in the League Cup in the same season. His miss against Juventus in a friendly in the United States in the summer of 2003 is still one of the all-time classics.
In the meantime, the City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has denied that the club are to bid €150m [£132m] to buy Messi from Barcelona. Al Mubarak issued the denial personally, saying: "Manchester City Football Club note with interest the reports circulating in the Spanish media that the club has made an offer to the Barcelona player Lionel Messi and that he has turned down the chance to join the club," the statement said.
"While acknowledging that Lionel Messi is a world-class player of the highest calibre, Manchester City would like to make it clear that the club has at no time made an approach to Mr Messi or his representatives."
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