Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has claimed that the club will spend no more money in the transfer window following the arrival of James Milner from Aston Villa.
After protracted negotiations between City and the Villains, Milner finally completed his move to Eastlands on Wednesday, with Stephen Ireland going in the opposite direction.
Milner became City’s eighth signing of the summer following the big money arrivals of Aleksandar Kolarov, Jerome Boateng, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Mario Balotelli, while young midfielders Alex Henshall and Albert Rusnak also joined the club.
City have spent somewhere in the region of £125 million this summer, but Mancini claims that no more additions will be made to the squad.
Asked if Milner was to be the last arrival at the club, Mancini replied: “I think so. He is a good young player who can play in every position in the middle or out wide.â€
Mancini also commented on Sir Alex Ferguson’s recent outburst about the ‘kamikaze’ amounts of money being spent by rival clubs in the transfer market.
Although Ferguson didn’t mention Manchester City by name, his outburst was seen to be in reference to United’s city rivals. Mancini defended his club’s activity in the transfer market, however, and claimed that Manchester United were in no position to be criticising the transfer strategy of other clubs, given the amount of money they have spent in the past.
“If you want to buy a new player you must spend money. It is the market,†Mancini said.
“I respect his (Ferguson’s) opinion but Manchester United, not Manchester City spent a lot of money in the past.”
The Italian also wished the departing Stephen Ireland the best at Aston Villa and praised the Cork-born midfielder for his contribution to City during his time at the club.
“I hope things go well for Stevie at Villa,†he said.
“He is also a very good player and he has played a big part in City’s history. I think he will enjoy the chance of being at another club and I hope he does well for Aston Villa.”
