The Daily Telegraph’s Mark Ogden today announced that a transfer between Benfica and Manchester United for 23-year-old Argentinean playmaker Nicolas Gaitán has been arranged between the sides. A fee of £29.3 million has been ‘informally agreed’ to by Benfica—despite earlier attempts to bring the fee up to the £38 million it would have taken to trigger Gaitán’s minimum fee release clause in his Benfica contract.

While the deal will likely be concluded in January, United have agreed that Gaitán will stay at Benfica until the summer and then move to Manchester.

Gaitán, a graduate of the Boca Juniors’ academy, played 66 games for the Argentinean giants from 2008 to 2010 and scored 12 goals, before moving to Benfica in Portugal in the summer of 2010 for a reported fee of €8.4 million. So far, Gaitán has made 32 appearances for the Portuguese side, scoring eight goals.

Gaitán also has six caps for Argentina, though is yet to score an international goal.

Gaitán plays primarily as an attacking midfielder. If the signing goes through, it can be assumed that Gaitán will either slot in behind Wayne Rooney in a 4-4-1-1, or play as a left-sided forward, should Sir Alex Ferguson choose to go for a 4-3-3.

The 23-year-old Gaitán is a skillful attacking midfielder with great dribbling talent and ball control, and he has great speed with the ball at his feet. Gaitán uses this—as well as great upper body strength—to keep the ball and beat defenders in tight areas.

He has an excellent range of passing, and delivers accurate crosses from the flanks. This has attributed to Gaitán’s Champions League, leading with five assists so far this season.

Despite a good work ethic, Gaitán doesn’t track back as often as he should to help his full back, and at only 5’8”, Gaitán does not “get stuck in” as is expected in the English game, often lacking aggression in defense.

If this deal goes through, United will have a creative attacking midfielder or winger to provide assists for United’s abundance of attacking talent. Gaitán has shown versatility in playing on both the left and right wings at Benfica, while still creating chances on both sides.

Gaitán’s arrival will signal the next stage of the rebuilding process at United as the era of Fergie’s Fledglings finally comes to a close.

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From WATCH SOCCER ONLINE, post Manchester United January Transfer News: £29.3 Million Fee Agreed for Gaitán

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Signs that the love affair between Roberto Mancini and one of his newest acquisitions, Samir Nasri, the now enfant terrible of Arsenal, are souring have surfaced at last.

“At last,” of course, alludes to the fact that Gooners have been waiting expectantly for this news since Nasri rejected them in August for their lack of passion.

The reader would recall that Nasri chose City because of their more passionate fans.

And indeed, she or he has to admit—even if grudgingly and reluctantly—that when it comes to passion, City fans are second to none, and that for Gooners, while it’s certainly difficult to admit, their decibel level is just a shard above the graveyard’s. So to be fair, there’s a need to cut the guy some slack.

Well, if there was ever a time to do so, none is better than now, when the season of jollity and benevolence sweeps swiftly across our clime, causing us to sing and spend.

Well then, it’s time to sing that grudge away. After all, our callow hatred is a shallow attempt to hide our true affection for our erstwhile beloved, as Kolo Toure rightly observed.

Gooners, before the kick off on Sunday, do the right thing and give the guy a hug. Here’s why.

Mirror Football reports that it has been the former Gunner’s turn at last to be on the receiving end of the now familiar cadence of boss Roberto Mancini. This is what the boss has said of the lad ahead of Sunday’s encounter between City and Arsenal.

Samir didn’t play against Chelsea or United. I would like him to play better, because he is a really top player. I hope Samir can play more games at a higher level.

A top player should show responsibility. I spoke to him after Napoli about this, but I think he has time to show what he is capable of.

He is a champion. He is a top, top player. He can do more, but when you change teams you can have a problem. Maybe his confidence is not very good because he didn’t play at Chelsea.

If he plays against Arsenal, he will have a chance to show what he can do.

Note, Gooner, in case you missed it, that Nasri hasn’t played against the top sides because he hasn’t been playing “better” and because he hasn’t shown “responsibility.” Nasri, the same person who used to play all the important games against all the important sides for us. Oh, well!

Here’s a thought, though, Balotelli showed responsibility and earned the right to play against Chelsea. It now makes perfect sense.

As for the “cadence” part, Gooners should recollect that we’ve heard it at least three times already this season—hymned of Johnson, solo-ed of Dzeko, canticled—no, this is getting ridiculous—”declared” will do, so declared of Richards.

No, don’t bring up Tevez, please, don’t, thank you…

But how can one fail to moralize in a situation so golden? If only Nasri had stayed with us, won’t he now be wearing the king’s crown, serenaded by our unending paeans of admiration and appreciation?

Tell me, how or why won’t your confidence cool when you spend so much time warming the bench? Tell me.

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From WATCH SOCCER ONLINE, post Arsenal News: Roberto Mancini to Nasri, “Pick Up Your Game”

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