Fernando Gago's hairdresser is happy, so is the girlfriend, and to be fair so is Jorge Valdano, who despite all claims by the player that he is unhappy in Madrid and can't continue with so few minutes before the World Cup in South Africa as Diego Maradona won't pick a player so out of form for the Argentina squad, the blancos  President values him as significant cover for both Diarra's who have been dealing with niggling injuries for weeks. Valdano told the fair-haired midfielder, "hold it together, at least until June, fight for your place on the squad to get more minutes."

Or at least that is what elpais.com is reporting. They also add that Madrid would only accept an "oferton", a huge offer at least equalling the 18 million euros that Ramon Calderon paid Boca Juniors in 2006. City  were unwilling to budge from 15 and were instead tracking another player, Parma midfielder Mariga, but when the Kenian signed for Inter instead as the Manchester club couldn't get his work-permit approved he signed instead with Inter. The English FA only allow foreign players a work permit if they have played 75% of their respective international squads games. City should have been aware of the situation and acted accordingly. Instead they came late for Gago and as his Valdano notes, "(City) had nothing prepared, not one document signed, they hadn't even reached an agreement with the player and they had 40 minutes to to it all."

Spanish clubs are often criticized for their lack of tact, their willingness to use the media or other players to facilitate their transfer targets, but you wouldn't call them semi-professional in their organization. This Gago transfer is just one more for the record. Whether it is their handling of their failed Kaka transfer, their lack of administrative professionalism in Gary Cook's public outbursts during the Manchester derby, their firing of Mark Hughes and hiring of Roberto Mancini, it is clear that you can inherit all the money in the world but it can't buy you class.