Manchester City have included a Manchester United-related sell-on clause in Brahim Diaz’s Real Madrid transfer, Goal has learned.Brahim, 18, is poised to move to Santiago Bernabeu in a deal worth an initial £15.5 million ($19m), plus £6.5m in add-ons.City have also agreed a clause with Madrid that entitles them to 15 per cent of any future transfer fee, should the forward sign for another club in the future. Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? But not every club.City have also included an agreement whereby they would receive 40% of any future transfer fee… if Brahim were to join Manchester United.Brahim joined City from Malaga as a 14-year-old and was regarded as one of the club’s academy graduates with the best prospects of making an impact in the first-team.There is no buy-back clause included in his transfer, but the Blues have ensured they will benefit in some way if the winger goes on to seal a big-money transfer elsewhere.The Spanish forward would have been out of contract at the Etihad Stadium in the summer, and refused to commit to a new deal with the Premier League club because he did not believe he would get enough first-team opportunities in the coming years.City made a number of big offers in a bid to retain Brahim’s services, but were unable to convince him that he will play more in first-team football than he will in Madrid.
Despite the Blues’ failure to persuade one of their highest-rated youngsters to stay, they are understood to be happy with the terms of the transfer, and believe many of the additional add-ons, which would take the overall value of the deal above £20m, are achievable.City will receive more money once Brahim plays a certain amount of games for Madrid, plus an extra instalment if he signs a new contract in the Spanish capital.Madrid have promised Brahim that he will be part of their first-team plans for the rest of the season, and he could make his debut in the Copa del Rey clash with Leganes next Wednesday.Brahim’s contribution will be assessed in the summer and a decision will then be made over whether he is sent out on loan or kept in the squad for next season.Goal revealed on Friday that Brahim’s advisors weighed up the possible impact of Jose Mourinho taking over at the Bernabeu before signing off on the deal.Sources close to the player do not believe that Mourinho is likely to replace Santi Solari at the end of the season, however, and a final agreement with the Champions League holders was reached at the end of 2018.
Exxon Mobil Corporation’s marine affiliate, SeaRiver Maritime, Inc., named on Friday (April 25) the Liberty Bay, the first of its two new U.S.-flag crude oil tankers, at a ceremony at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard.The first-in-class vessel, constructed at the shipyard, incorporates the latest safety, navigation and engine room technologies and will begin supplying crude oil from Alaska North Slope to refineries along the U.S. west coast later this year. The double hull Liberty Bay is 820-feet long and has capacity to carry 800,000 barrels of oil.SeaRiver Maritime’s contract with Aker for two tankers, valued at $400 million, delivered a significant economic boost to the greater Philadelphia region where it generated employment and millions of dollars in revenue. When placed into service, the new tankers’ economic contributions will extend across the United States to Alaska, California and Washington as they begin to support oil production and refining operations. They will replace two existing double hull tankers.“We knew that this project would have a positive economic impact, creating more than 1,200 jobs and generating millions of dollars in revenue for the city of Philadelphia, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and beyond,” said Darren Woods, president of ExxonMobil Refining & Supply Company. “What we celebrate today is a reminder of what America’s energy industry can do and is doing – investing in our country. Expanding supplies of affordable, reliable energy has been a major contributor to our economy, creating jobs and helping meet our government’s fiscal challenges.”Woods highlighted the key role Pennsylvania is playing in the US energy and manufacturing renaissance. “Domestic natural gas production has risen by about 25 percent over a 10-year period. At the same time, U.S. crude oil production has risen by 13 percent,” he said. “Today, the Marcellus Shale produces 20 percent of U.S. natural gas supply. The impact this growth in domestic energy production is directly having on the U.S. economy is remarkable.”In addition to double hulls for all cargo and fuel tanks, the Liberty Bay is equipped with redundant components for key systems, including main engine components and controls as well as fuel, lube oil and electrical systems to deliver energy efficiencies and better performance.These features reflect the results of SeaRiver Maritime’s consultation with independent specialists to complete an extensive evaluation of the vessel’s design using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, a methodology used by the aerospace industry and the U.S. Department of Defense. This study analyzed key operating systems under a variety of scenarios at sea. The ship’s main engine and auxiliary systems will be energy efficient and generate lower air emissions than what regulatory standards currently require.Delivery of the second Liberty-class vessel is expected by year-end 2014.
Find out who has joined the premier automotive trade association and what they get from membership: New members – July 2018.Albis (U.K.) Limited – www.albis.com/uk-enDataArt Technologies UK Limited – www.dataart.comDontyne Gears Limited T/A Dontyne Systems – www.dontynesystems.comHiETA Technologies Limited – www.hieta.bizJost UK Limited – www.jostuk.co.ukO B Spoke Services Limited T/A Bespoke Services – http://bespokeni.com/Penny Hydraulics Limited – www.pennyhydraulics.comTrifords Limited T/A Auto Windscreens – www.autowindscreens.co.ukTry EV Limited – www.TryEV.comUrban Electric Networks Limited T/A Urban Electric – www.urbanelectric.londonWurth Electronics UK Limited – www.we-online.comXplore Technologies T/A Xplore – www.xploretech.com/ukSMMT data services:Extensive market data providing key information to assist marketing and promotional activity, and future business opportunities.Legal helpline:SMMT advisors provide assistance with disputes, contracts, employment issues, health and safety matters and much more.Developing business opportunities:SMMT’s targeted events and Automotive Supplier Finder (ASF) service helps facilitate opportunities by matching buyers to suppliers.Production outlook:European car and light commercial vehicle production outlook helps plot future vehicle volumes, as well as new and facelift model introductions.International business expertise:SMMT exhibitions and overseas visits create new business opportunities on top of our excellent database of international sales leads.Raising productivity:10% discount on standard Industry Forum prices.Information:SMMT’s continual flow of information and analysis reflects the full spectrum of industry issues at home and abroad.Technical helpline:Get instant advice on new technical standards which will impact on your business.Funding and support:Expand or modernise your business using SMMTs knowledge of the funding and support systems available.The pace of change in the motor industry puts demand on businesses. Today, businesses need to be better informed, more efficient and more competitive. On your own this can be tough call, but as a member of SMMT you have a resource to help you realise your full potential.For information on joining SMMT please contact: Alison Handley/Liz Paul on 020 7344 9210/1663 or membership@smmt.co.ukClick to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Keane has scored 54 goals – 33 more than Niall Quinn, a distant second on the all-time scorers’ list – in 122 international games. He lies just three games short of Shay Given’s record haul, and will surpass it. He was Ireland’s record goalscorer at the 2002 World Cup, and has scored away against Germans, the Dutch and the French.Detractors claim he’s a flat track bully, only scoring against mediocre opposition or in ‘meaningless friendlies,’ but 34 of his 54 strikes have come outside of non-competitive matches and Nations Cup games.He has done it when it mattered.So, what is it?The goal celebration?Eric Cantona used to stand, collar up, scowling at his Manchester United audience and remains one of that club’s, nay football’s, great icons. Gareth Bale’s loveheart affectation is nauseating in the extreme, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more heartily praised player in the Premier League. REMEMBER THE TIME Robbie Keane broke into your house, spray-painted lewd graffiti on the walls, ate all the Corn Flakes, got your granny drunk and took your girlfriend for a joyride?No?How about the time he walked out on the Irish team to meet up with the lads to go disco dancing in Ayia Napa?Or if that doesn’t ring any bells, maybe you’ll recall the tantrums, the training ground bust-ups, the missed friendly internationals, the assault allegations, the strike threats, the roastings, the missed drug tests, the spit spats and all the other events that haven’t composed the life of Ireland’s own answer to Pol Pot.I just don’t get why Robbie Keane is not lauded as Ireland’s greatest player, or at least on a par with Paul McGrath, Liam Brady, Roy Keane, John Giles.The statistics are oft-repeated. Is it Keane’s litany of clubs? The cumulative transfer fees?Never mind that he has never been responsible for the money paid for his services, bear in mind that Kevin Kilbane – our ‘Killer’ – numbers nine clubs in his career to Keane’s ten.To accusations that he has never stuck around anywhere long enough to build an affinity with any set of fans, look at his first spell with Spurs.Look at his reasons for leaving Inter Milan (Marcello Lippi was sacked), Leeds (financial meltdown), Liverpool (barely given a chance). Nowhere can Keane be accused of running down a contract, refusing to go out on loan or refusing to play.Could it be the ‘favourite club while growing up’ thing?
The myth goes that Keane has said this about every club he’s played for in the last five years, the truth being that he only claimed it for Liverpool and for Glasgow Celtic.Well, same here, and same for many young lads growing up in Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s, the difference being that this writer couldn’t kick snow off a rope.Yes, he said it was a “dream come true” to join LA Galaxy from Spurs, but show me a 30-year-old that wouldn’t fancy a move to Hollywood, the good weather, the chance of bumping into Jeremy Piven in the street, the bit of adulation.Is he just a bit too cocky?Well, that Kevin Doyle does seem like a lovely fella by comparison. How’s he getting on?The conclusion can only be begrudgery, that standard Irish thing, that revulsion at success and Keane’s failure to apologise for it. The sheer cheek of his talent and steadfast refusal to throw it all away. We just love a fallen idol, but we’ll greet one of the most committed and loyal of all of Ireland’s players with a loud and resounding ‘meh.’And still expect him to turn up.Gavin takes a stand against plan to divide Dubs >