davieG Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 In tonight's Merc MM tells how he was nearly tempted to Parma or Livorno during the takeover talks and how he wants establish links with NK Koper (Slovenia's most successful club) It was a tug-of-love, and Leicester City won. In the fifth part of our series, Milan Mandaric tells Lee Marlow why he chose us over ItalyIn early 2007, about mid-way through the protracted takeover talks with Leicester City, Milan Mandaric took a phone call from Italy. In fact, he received two - one from the chief executive of Serie A side, Parma FC, the othfrom the chairman of AS Livorno. Both invited Milan to Italy to see their clubs. Parma, based in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, have a proud history of success in Europe - but at the start of 2007, they were up for sale to the highest bidder. Tuscany team Livorno - a smaller club, but with Euro-pean ambitions of their own - called Milan when they heard he might have some spare cash after selling his shares in Portsmouth. It was, admits Milan, a confusing time. He says: "I did go to Parma and I was impressed. It was at a time when I felt that things were taking too long at Leicester. "I felt low. I was worn out. I thought people were dragging their feet. I was being told the fans would not like it if a 'foreigner' like me took over their club." How close he came to scrapping negotiations here and walking away from Filbert Way, he won't say. At this stage of the conversation - wary, perhaps, he might have said too much - he cuts the debate short. "I don't know," he says. "I look at the Italian league - and there was a bit of interest from Hertha Berlin, too, in the Bundesliga - but I look at those clubs and it makes me think how much I like English football. "My desire is here," he says. "I like it here. The fans have been good to me. I can see Leicester's potential. I can see us playing in the Premiership. That's where we belong." Milan has been involved with many football clubs since he first established the works' team, Lika FC, in California's Silicon Valley in 1972. How much has he spent? "I don't know," he says. "I look back at all the clubs I've been involved with - and in all, I've lost money, no doubt - but I don't have any regrets." Journalists have written thousands of words about those clubs. But here, for the first time, is what the man himself says. It goes on to explain his involvement in San Jose Earthquakes, Standard Liege, OGC Nice, Portsmouth and NK Koper, the last club he still has an interest in as a 'sponsor' and claims " I want to establish links with Koper and LCFC. I think it will be beneficial for both clubs" What price some of our Academy players going on loan?
OriginalRobboFOX Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 OMG he turned down Parma over us. Good man!!
Fez of Mahrez Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 Not sure about that. We don't want our kids becoming slovenly.
Bryn Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 That's cause he knows Italian football is a mess. He won't get any financial satisfaction there and he certainly won't get much footballing satisfaction there. And even for an Italian club, Parma is a bit of a mess.
OriginalRobboFOX Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 Not sure about that. We don't want our kids becoming slovenly. Boom Boom Tsh!
lookwhaticando Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 That's cause he knows Italian football is a mess. He won't get any financial satisfaction there and he certainly won't get much footballing satisfaction there. And even for an Italian club, Parma is a bit of a mess. He'd get a ton of financial satisfaction with all the backhanders out there.
MBK Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 He'd get a ton of financial satisfaction with all the backhanders out there. Parma are underachieving but have some excellent talent coming through. The new owner will mean people like Gilardino, Bresciano and Marchionni wont be sold regularly. That is in the last year only! Livorno are far worse in my opinion. Ugly stadium. Have two good players underrated Lucarelli and overrated Amelia. However Leicester are the best investment given the better money distribution of TV rights. In Italy, you'd be lucky as Fiorentina (champions league aspirants) to get 12 million per year (25 million euros). While Milan get nearly 75 million euros per year despite not being brilliant recently.
Thracian Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 Parma are underachieving but have some excellent talent coming through. The new owner will mean people like Gilardino, Bresciano and Marchionni wont be sold regularly. That is in the last year only! Livorno are far worse in my opinion. Ugly stadium. Have two good players underrated Lucarelli and overrated Amelia. However Leicester are the best investment given the better money distribution of TV rights. In Italy, you'd be lucky as Fiorentina (champions league aspirants) to get 12 million per year (25 million euros). While Milan get nearly 75 million euros per year despite not being brilliant recently. They won't be the best investment if he doesn't start making some decisions - and good ones at that. He mentions in the article that he's lost money overall - which is hardly what we were hearing pre-takeover from all those hustling for his arrival. I am already concerned that MM had some input over the loan signings and if he did it worries me no end. He clearly loves his football but I've no idea what his personal judgement is like where footballers are concerned. If he's sanctioned the likes of Yeates, Horsfield, Jarrett, Lombard and Newton then make your own judgement. The same with Kelly if he wanted them. Seems to me we need someone in the club that does know footballers - and knows how good and how fit they are right now. Having a lot of money is not always easy. I buy and sell every day and across a huge range of subjects. As a result I've been both really flushed and really skint. And the funny thing is I've always bought best when I've been next to broke. So much so that I imagine I'm broke all the time now and that each decision is potentially the last. It does focus the attention. The point being that all the money in the world will be useless without the right decisions - as Peter Taylor emphasised.
Geo V Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 They won't be the best investment if he doesn't start making some decisions - and good ones at that. He mentions in the article that he's lost money overall - which is hardly what we were hearing pre-takeover from all those hustling for his arrival. I am already concerned that MM had some input over the loan signings and if he did it worries me no end. He clearly loves his football but I've no idea what his personal judgement is like where footballers are concerned. If he's sanctioned the likes of Yeates, Horsfield, Jarrett, Lombard and Newton then make your own judgement. The same with Kelly if he wanted them. Seems to me we need someone in the club that does know footballers - and knows how good and how fit they are right now. Having a lot of money is not always easy. I buy and sell every day and across a huge range of subjects. As a result I've been both really flushed and really skint. And the funny thing is I've always bought best when I've been next to broke. So much so that I imagine I'm broke all the time now and that each decision is potentially the last. It does focus the attention. The point being that all the money in the world will be useless without the right decisions - as Peter Taylor emphasised. Most of those turned up before MM took over and despite people continuously telling me that he was talking to RK, i`b be amazed if he had any proper involvement in things like deals until he took over because lets face it, the deal isnt a deal until its signed and sealed. As for the rest of the article, it doesnt tell us much of the things taht we need to know about Leicester. I suppose the only half-decent thing that he mentioned is that he has lost money which means he doesnt mind ploughing in cash but again I can believe he has lost money.
Daggers Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 Not sure about that. We don't want our kids becoming slovenly. You good, good man.
Head Honcho Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 OMG he turned down Parma over us. Good man!! Not so much turned down, more like got us for a fraction of the price with less grief in the future. Looking at our books would have been a bloody doddle compared to Parma's
Steven Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 Not so much turned down, more like got us for a fraction of the price with less grief in the future. Looking at our books would have been a bloody doddle compared to Parma's Which set of books, alledgedly.
Bryn Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 I'd imagine that with the loan signings we have made, he's basically thought "we need bodies in here, no matter who" and tbh he was right. And to be fair to them, they are players in areas we've needed strengthening. I was saying all season long that a strong striker and a winger was necessary and that's what they've tried to bring in. The players obviously weren't good enough and I think MM knows that, and he will know that he needs to bring overall quality in summer.
Lineker's Left Foot Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 That's cause he knows Italian football is a mess. He won't get any financial satisfaction there and he certainly won't get much footballing satisfaction there. And even for an Italian club, Parma is a bit of a mess. Yes they seem to have a hit a bit of a 'mare' recently.
Thracian Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 Most of those turned up before MM took over and despite people continuously telling me that he was talking to RK, i`b be amazed if he had any proper involvement in things like deals until he took over because lets face it, the deal isnt a deal until its signed and sealed. As for the rest of the article, it doesnt tell us much of the things taht we need to know about Leicester. I suppose the only half-decent thing that he mentioned is that he has lost money which means he doesnt mind ploughing in cash but again I can believe he has lost money. I'd say it was certain MM had input concerning the loanees. I think there was a legal point in the negotiation process when MM was entitled to have input. But I'll stand correcting and I doubt we will ever know for certain.
Daggers Posted 23 March 2007 Posted 23 March 2007 I tell you - I'm expecting a mad summer of activity...or else
Ric Flair Posted 26 March 2007 Posted 26 March 2007 I think we'll be seeing one or two of Slovenia's finest in the Citeh blue next season.
Leonisco Posted 26 March 2007 Posted 26 March 2007 I think we'll be seeing one or two of Slovenia's finest in the Citeh blue next season. Jani Sturm maybe? The guy we were going to sign not long ago but he failed a medical?
00rawat Posted 26 March 2007 Posted 26 March 2007 Jani Sturm maybe? The guy we were going to sign not long ago but he failed a medical? Yeah what ever happed to Jani Sturm? Does anyone how this guy is doing now? Would love to see this guy in a city shirt.
Ric Flair Posted 26 March 2007 Posted 26 March 2007 Yeah what ever to Jani Sturm? Does anyone how this guy is doing now? Would love to see this guy in a city shirt. Was on trial at Kilmarnock earlier in the season, if he can't get a deal up there then it's fair to say we did well not to sign him.
shen Posted 26 March 2007 Posted 26 March 2007 Was on trial at Kilmarnock earlier in the season, if he can't get a deal up there then it's fair to say we did well not to sign him. Wasn't the problem that he had a medical condition that made him too risky to sign? I've only seen him once for ND Gorica in a stunning 0-5 victory away at FC Copenhagen. He was outstanding in that game, but can't judge him on one performance.
Geo V Posted 26 March 2007 Posted 26 March 2007 I'd say it was certain MM had input concerning the loanees. I think there was a legal point in the negotiation process when MM was entitled to have input. But I'll stand correcting and I doubt we will ever know for certain. I disagree. If MM had an involvement in our loan deals before he joined the club he wouldnt have gone on about all of these players that he was missing out on because the takeover was dragging on. Also, would we have sold Williams so cheaply or offered him a new deal had MM been in place?? I`d say he had no more than a consulting opinion on RKs transfers because MM couldnt have had an involvement without officially being linked to the club.
00rawat Posted 26 March 2007 Posted 26 March 2007 Did anyone else read in the Merc what Milan Mandaric had to say about Leicester City? he allways says the right things.Here to the furture with Mlian and succees with City.
Ric Flair Posted 27 March 2007 Posted 27 March 2007 Wasn't the problem that he had a medical condition that made him too risky to sign? I've only seen him once for ND Gorica in a stunning 0-5 victory away at FC Copenhagen. He was outstanding in that game, but can't judge him on one performance. I'm not too sure why he failed a medical. I'm sure he passed it first and then when we it came down to the time he was about to join, the deal collapsed due to a medical condition?! Either way, he's not gone on to make us regret not signing him.
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