Villa hijack Manzambi deal after Switzerland's World Cup exit
Villa move for Manzambi as Newcastle deal hangs
Aston Villa are working on a deal for Switzerland international Johan Manzambi, trying to hijack his move to Newcastle United (3). The Freiburg midfielder is in demand after Switzerland's run to the World Cup quarterfinals.
No fee has been confirmed yet. The timing is sharp, Switzerland just bowed out against Argentina, and Manzambi's stock has risen during the tournament.
Argentina 3–1, the run ends
Your team fell short in the quarterfinals. Argentina won 3–1, and the dream is over. Switzerland had knocked out Colombia on penalties to reach this stage, with Gregor Kobel making himself a national hero in that shootout. This time Argentina's quality told.
The loss stings. Switzerland gave the country a real run this summer. You go out with your head up.
Fan-reaktioner
The mood online is reflective rather than bitter. Argentine fans celebrated hard after full-time, flooding the streets of Buenos Aires province (Reddit). Their chant, "I don't have a dime but I come anyway", captures the energy of a fanbase that sees every win as a party. For Swiss supporters, the reaction has been pride in a team that broke the penalty curse and took a genuine tilt at the last eight.
Sources
- 3. bbc.co.uk — Villa working on deal for Switzerland's Manzambi