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NewsDay

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Nasri to join Man City, Tevez back

Sport
LONDON — English Premiership giants Arsenal will allow Samir Nasri to join Manchester City — but the world’s richest club has been ordered to stop penny- pinching. SunSport revealed last week that the Blues were making a £22million offer for the French midfielder, who has one year left on his Gunners contract. High-level talks continued […]

LONDON — English Premiership giants Arsenal will allow Samir Nasri to join Manchester City — but the world’s richest club has been ordered to stop penny- pinching.

SunSport revealed last week that the Blues were making a £22million offer for the French midfielder, who has one year left on his Gunners contract.

High-level talks continued over the weekend and Gunners boss Arsène Wenger has finally admitted defeat in his battle to keep Nasri after earlier discussions with the player last Thursday.

But there is still the stumbling block of how the transfer fee will be paid — although City sources expect things to be ironed out over the next few days.

City are understood to have offered a down payment of £15m with the remainder payable on Nasri’s success and appearances over the next five years.

Yet the Arsenal board want the entire fee in one hit so Wenger can immediately strengthen his squad. Nasri (24) has also ignored interest from Manchester United — who are thought to have virtually matched City’s wage offer of £125 000 a week — as his heart is set on playing for Roberto Mancini’s outfit.

City sources also indicated that their interest in Inter’s Dutch superstar Wesley Sneijder is serious. Carlos Tevez was back in a Manchester City shirt yesterday — but was warned he faces a battle to face Swansea on Monday.

The Argentine striker looked to have played his last game for the club after spelling out his desire to leave last month.

But nobody has come close to City’s £50 million asking price and he is facing the prospect of having to stay at the club.

Tevez returned to Carrington for the first time since May and had a 30-minute run-out with close pal Pablo Zabaleta.

But coach David Platt says it will be touch and go whether he can prove his fitness in time to play in City’s league opener.

Platt said: “He’s had three weeks off. I think it’ll be tight.”

Tevez laughed and joked with teammates on his return to training — despite doubts surrounding his future. The Argentina striker arrived at the club’s training ground in a black Hummer and exchanged an embrace with a security guard before going into the complex. Tevez has made no secret of the fact he wants a move away from Eastlands to be closer to his family, who live in Buenos Aires. — Sun