Bellamy joins City, Kaká stays at Milan
Monday, January 19, 2009
Article summary
Manchester City FC signed the Wales forward Craig Bellamy from West Ham United FC for an undisclosed fee on Monday but have ended their pursuit of AC Milan playmaker Kaká following transfer talks in Italy.
Article top media content
Article body
Manchester City FC signed the Wales forward Craig Bellamy from West Ham United FC for an undisclosed fee on Monday but have ended their pursuit of AC Milan playmaker Kaká following transfer talks in Italy.
Previous clubs
The 29-year-old passed a medical on Monday before penning a four-and-a-half year contract at Eastlands. Bellamy joined West Ham United FC from Liverpool FC in July 2007 and went on to score seven goals in 24 Premier League games over two injury-hit campaigns. Bellamy has also played for Norwich City FC, Coventry City FC, Newcastle United FC, Celtic FC and Blackburn Rovers FC, where he enjoyed a productive 2005/06 season under current City manager Mark Hughes.
Attitude praised
Hughes said: "I am delighted to be working with Craig once more. He is an outstanding player who provides us with qualities that we are lacking slightly. He has blistering pace, bags of enthusiasm, a superb attitude to training and will be a great addition to the squad." City have also signed Chelsea FC left-back Wayne Bridge for a significant fee ahead of next month's UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie against FC København.
'Great man'
Meanwhile, Kaká will not be joining Bellamy and Bridge in England as City "felt that it was unlikely that the two parties could reach common ground for an agreement" following talks with Milan. The Italian club's owner, Silvio Berlusconi, added on Monday night: "I'm very happy to keep a great champion on the pitch and a great man at Milan."