Galatasaray’s new manager Cesare Prandelli gestures during the signing ceremony of his contract in Istanbul. (AFP)
Former Italy football manager Cesare Prandelli yesterday immediately put behind him the disappointment of his country’s first round exit from the World Cup, signing a two year deal with Istanbul giants Galatasaray worth at least 2.3 million euros a year.
Galatasaray have conducted an extensive search for a new manager following the departure of former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini who left Istanbul after less than a season amid reported differences over transfer policy. “My aim is to develop a winning team,” said Prandelli at the signing ceremony in Istanbul, impressing his hosts with some opening pleasantries in Turkish. “Not just a team that plays well but to form a team that only wins,” he added.
Prandelli will receive a base annual salary for the next two seasons of 2.295 million euros ($3.12 million) but will receive huge bonuses if he achieves success with the club, Galatasaray said in a statement.
He will receive a one million dollar (735,000 euro) bonus if Galatasaray wins the Turkish league title and two million dollars (1.5 million euros) if it wins the Champions League.
If he achieves the targets of winning the Turkish league and making the Champions League quarter finals, he will also receive a pay rise of 350,000 euros ($475,000).
The Turkish league kicks off at the end of August with Galatasaray seeking to overcome eternal Istanbul rivals and last season’s champions Fenerbahce. With Fenerbahce disqualified due to a match-fixing scandal, Galatasaray are taking Turkey’s automatic Champions League spot for 2014-2015 as last year’s runners-up. Prandelli, 56, oversaw Italy’s failed World Cup campaign in Brazil which started promisingly with victory over England but ended in a first round exit.
He resigned immediately after defeat to Uruguay meant Italy failed to make it to the knockout stages.
Galatasaray had held talks with the sacked Manchester United boss David Moyes and had also expressed interest in top German coaches like national team chief Joachim Loew and US national coach Juergen Klinsmann.
Goalkeeper Caballero joins Man City
Argentinian goalkeeper Willy Caballero has signed for Manchester City from Malaga on a three-year contract, the Premier League champions confirmed yesterday.
The 32-year-old has moved for an undisclosed fee in a switch that sees him team up again with City manger Manuel Pellegrini. Cabellero played under Pellegrini when the Chilean was in charge of Malaga from 2010-2013. “I am very happy, and really looking forward to the start of pre-season and performing well to help the team,” said Caballero. “This is a new challenge and a new league for me. I have been doing well in the previous years and my goal is to go on and hopefully perform at the same level for City.”
City had been looking for a new goalkeeper to provide back-up for first-choice stopper Joe Hart following Costel Pantilimon’s release at the end of last season. And Caballero said he was ready to challenge Hart. “I know I am coming to a big club with a very good goalkeeper,” Caballero said. Caballero began his career with Boca Juniors in his homeland before signing for Spanish club Elche in 2004 where he spent seven years. He headed for Malaga in 2011 and was named La Liga keeper of the season for 2012-13, Pellegrini’s last with the Spanish club. Caballero becomes City’s third new signing of the summer after midfielder Fernando and full-back Bacary Sagna.