Pep Guardiola will take Manchester City to a "whole new level," according to the club's chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak. The former Bayern Munich manager will start his three-year reign at The Etihad on July 1 and Khaldoon believes the club are getting possibly the best manager in the world. Owner Sheikh Mansour has pumped hundreds of millions of pounds into the club he bought in 2008 and in that time City have won two Premier League titles and three domestic trophies. The hope is that Guardiola can now bring the sort of dominance he enjoyed … [Read more...]
Inter not in a rush to sign Manchester City Midfielder Yaya Toure
Piero Ausilio insisted Inter are interested in Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, but the Serie A side are in no rush to push through a deal. Chinese investors Suning Commerce Group are set to purchase a majority 70 per cent stake from Inter president Erick Thohir. And as the two parties complete the new ownership structure, Inter director Ausilio said the club's pursuit of 33-year-old Toure is not a priority at the moment. After six seasons at the Etihad Stadium and with former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola to take charge in … [Read more...]
Ilkay Gundogan gives encouraging injury report after Manchester City move
City have gone ahead with the £21m deal with Borussia Dortmund despite the fact midfielder Gundogan dislocated his knee cap towards the end of last season to rule himself out of Euro 2016. But the 25-year-old player - who also missed a year with a back injury while with Dortmund - has re-assured City that although he will miss the first month of the season he expects to be fully fit by the beginning of September and they are not taking a gamble. He said: “I had a dislocated patella. It happened in training but it’s not as bad as it sounds. A … [Read more...]
Manchester City make bid of £39m for defender Aymeric Laporte
Manchester are ready to meet the £39m release clause in Aymeric Laporte’s contract with Athletic Bilbao, after announcing the signing of Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund The 22-year-old French defender will be sidelined until August because of a broken leg and dislocated ankle but is understood to be a main transfer target for new City manager Pep Guardiola . Laporte has stepped up his training in recent weeks and although Bilbao are ready to offer him an improved contract, he is believed to be keen to join Guardiola’s revolution at the … [Read more...]
Ilkay Gundogan arrives City from Borussia Dortmund on a £20m deal
Manchester City have announced the signing of Germany international midfielder Ilkay Gundogan in a reported £20m transfer from Borussia Dortmund. The 25-year-old, who will miss Euro 2016 and the start of the new Premier League season through injury, and will not be back for City's preseason tour to China, which includes a game against Dortmund, becomes the first signing for incoming City manager Pep Guardiola. However, it is hoped the deep-lying playmaker could be back in action by September. Gundogan dislocated his kneecap in training at … [Read more...]
Manchester City face competition for Serie A starlet
MANCHESTER CITY have entered the race to sign Bologna wonderkid Amadou Diawara, according to reports in Italy. The 18-year-old midfielder has emerged as one of the Serie A side's star men this season, making 34 league appearances. And his performances have cut the eyes of big clubs in Europe. Italian giants Juventus, Napoli and Roma are all thought to be keeping tabs on Diawara. While Manchester United and Chelsea are believed to have registered an interest in bringing him to England this summer. However, the appointment of Jose Mourinho … [Read more...]
Raheem Sterling gunning for European glory with the Three Lions
RAHEEM STERLING praised England boss Roy Hodgson for helping to put back his career on track and hopes him and his teammates can win England the European championships. The Manchester City star revealed that Hodgson's influence and tactics had played a major part in lifting his game at a time when he appeared to be struggling with injury and form. Sterling, whose performance in the 2-1 warm up win over Australia, said the England manager's decision to give him a role operating more in the middle had given him a huge boost. "It's a position I … [Read more...]
Manuel Pellegrini regrets timing of Pep Guardiola announcement
Manuel Pellegrini has confessed he harbours regrets over his mid-season announcement that Pep Guardiola had agreed to replace him as Manchester City manager this summer. The Chilean is approaching the end of his three-year reign at the Etihad, a spell which included one Premier League title and two Capital One Cup success, after breaking with convention to confirm he was leaving this summer back in February. City subsequently finished 15 points behind champions Leicester City, were knocked out of both the Champions League and the FA Cup and … [Read more...]
Raheem Sterling puts fate in England psychiatrist as he hopes to shine in France
Raheem Sterling has turned to psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters to help bolster his Euro 2016 chances for the three Lions. England international Sterling admits he was struggling for form and confidence at the end of the season after losing his place at Manchester City under their then-boss Manuel Pellegrini. The most expensive English player in history – costing Manchester City £49 million when he signed from Liverpool last summer – said he welcomed the presence of Peters in the England camp after also working with him when he was at … [Read more...]
Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany ruled out for four months
Vincent Kompany’s thigh injury is expected to keep him out for four months meaning the Belgian captain will miss the start of next season under the club’s new coach, Pep Guardiola. Kompany, 30, lasted just six minutes of the tie in the Santiago Bernabeu before succumbing to the latest muscle problem in an injury-ravaged campaign. He later released a message on his Facebook page that confirmed he will definitely miss the tournament. "I'll miss the Euros," he wrote. "To me that's very sad news. "So I could be standing here, feeling sorry for … [Read more...]
Manuel Pellegrini preaches focus as crucial week awaits Manchester City
Manuel Pellegrini tends to keep Manchester City's focus on their quest for points as they make the away trip to face Southampton on Sunday. The Premier League clash at St Mary's comes between the two legs of City's Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, which is up for grabs after Tuesday's goalless affair at the Etihad Stadium. Pellegrini wants to see the same level of commitment that saw his side win their league games ahead of both quarter-final legs against Paris Saint-Germain and then thrash Stoke last weekend. City's gaffer … [Read more...]