Sir Alex Ferguson looks to bring goalscoring midfielder to Old Trafford but will have to beat off competition from local rivals City.
City join United in race for £25m midfielder
Manchester City are set to rival Manchester United in the race to sign Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The Slovakia international was thought to be a transfer target for United in the summer and were looking to bring the midfielder to Old Trafford as a potential replacement for veteran midfielder Paul Scholes.
However, Mancini revealed that during his reign at Inter Milan he was beaten to the signing the 22 year-old by Napoli and doesn’t want to make the same mistake twice.
Mancini said: “When I coached Inter, I asked for Hamsik. I really wanted him, but Napoli were quicker than us.
“I am not at all surprised that the major European clubs are interested in him. He is a real talent.”
Hamsik has made over 80 appearances for Napoli so far, scoring an impressive 26 goals from central midfield. (Give Me Football – Official PFA Website)
Not sure if Marek Hamsik is quite the same sort of player that Paul Scholes is or indeed was but the Napoli man would nonetheless be a fine addition to the Old Trafford line up and one that Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping to beat neighbours Manchester City to the punch.
The Slovak scores a great number of goals from midfield and is always on hand to lay on a fine pass or cross to others. Manchester United will be keen to find a long term replacement for the legend that is Paul Scholes and in some ways the 22 year old could fit the bill.
After three years at Brescia the former Slovan Bratislava man made his big move to a Napoli side who have started to improve in the past two seasons and are now in the top four in this seasons Serie A and will be loathed to lose the Slovakian International but may find it hard to prevent their young star from having his head turned by such interest.