Pep Guardiola reportedly views Jamal Musiala as the natural successor to Kevin De Bruyne in the Manchester City squad, according to Diario Sport.
Kevin De Bruyne, at the age of 32, has been plagued by injuries, causing him to miss nearly the entire current season after being forced to leave the opening game.
There are growing concerns within City about his long-term fitness, despite him only missing 14 league games over the last two seasons.
A recent report suggested that Al Nassr might consider signing De Bruyne, potentially teaming him up with Cristiano Ronaldo.
De Bruyne’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire in the summer of 2025.
Jamal Musiala, a 20-year-old talent, is being viewed as a seamless replacement for De Bruyne in the City squad.
However, Bild suggests that Liverpool will also pose strong competition for his signature.
Musiala, a German international, previously played for Southampton and Chelsea at the youth level before joining Bayern Munich at the age of 16.
This comes in light of Haaland’s somewhat inefficient performance against Young Boys, where the Norwegian striker had endured a goal drought in the Champions League, failing to score in his previous five matches.
Nonetheless, Haaland managed to break this streak by netting twice in Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Young Boys in Bern on Wednesday evening.
During the first half of the match, Haaland squandered a clear-cut opportunity while one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Guardiola, however, defended his striker’s performance, emphasising the overall positive impact he had on the game.
“It is important to have the chances; the people want him to fail,” Guardiola told TNT Sports after the match.
“I am sorry, but this guy will score goals all his life. With his chances, he is an incredible threat.
“The players need the ability to find the pass, like Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan. But he is going to score until the last day he plays football.”
Haaland’s recent penalty kick was his first goal in continental competition after a drought lasting 543 minutes since his last goal against Bayern Munich in the previous edition’s quarterfinal second leg.
The timing of Haaland’s resurgence is particularly crucial, given that City is about to face their arch-rivals, Manchester United, at Old Trafford in the upcoming derby on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola has distanced himself from recent reports suggesting he informed Brighton’s players that Roberto De Zerbi would be the next manager of Manchester City.
Roberto De Zerbi has made a significant impact since taking over as Brighton’s manager just over a year ago, leading the team into European competition for the first time in the club’s history with an attack-minded and free-flowing style.
As Brighton prepares to face Manchester City at the Etihad this Saturday, there have been speculations about De Zerbi potentially being considered as a future replacement for Guardiola, possibly even with the Spaniard’s endorsement.
According to The Telegraph, during City’s match at the Amex Stadium in May, Guardiola was seen conversing with several Brighton players in the tunnel.
Allegedly, he gestured towards De Zerbi and remarked, ‘That’s the next Manchester City manager.’ However, Guardiola has since stated that he cannot recall making such a statement, despite his admiration for the Brighton manager.
Asked about the reports, the city manager replied, ‘I don’t remember that. Maybe I have a bad memory but I’m sure Roberto can train with any team around the world. I don’t have any doubt.
‘I don’t remember saying that to the players. I remember saying before he arrived, one or two games in, about sustaining the manager, but I don’t remember saying that honestly. ‘It’s none of my business. If the chairman asks for my opinion, I will give my opinion, but it’s none of my business. ‘I’m not the sporting director. It’s not my responsibility to say what’s going right or wrong.’
Although Roberto De Zerbi made a name for himself with impressive stints at Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk, he was relatively unknown in England before joining Brighton.
Guardiola believes that De Zerbi’s impact demonstrates that managers don’t necessarily need to be widely recognised names to achieve success.
‘It doesn’t mean you have to be at the top clubs to be manager of the top clubs. I was appointed Barcelona first-team player, coming from the fourth division with no experience at the top level,’ he continued.
‘You have the idea of the club; the sporting director follows the idea; they hire the manager for this idea; they hire players to follow the idea. When that happens, it’s going well.Man City have done this, Liverpool with Jurgen Klopp, for many years—winning titles with the same process and same ideas.’
Osman Bukari has voiced his disappointment following Red Star Belgrade’s loss to European champions Manchester City in the opening match of theUEFA Champions League.
The Ghanaian international scored a remarkable goal to open the scoring in an exhilarating match at the Etihad on Tuesday night, marking his first goal in the competition’s group stage.
Nevertheless, a resilient comeback from the treble-winning Manchester City squad resulted in Red Star’s defeat as they returned to Serbia.
“Unfortunately, not the results we wanted but we will come back stronger! Thank you all for the support!,” wrote Bukari on social media after the match.
At the stroke of halftime, the 24-year-old provided the Serbian champions with a lead by skillfully beating the offside trap.
In the early stages of the second half, City responded with a goal from Argentine forward Julian Alvarez.
The 2022 World Cup winner gave Manchester City their first lead of the game at the hour mark, and Rodri secured the victory late in the match.
Despite the defeat, Red Star Belgrade’s manager, Barak Bahar, expressed pride in Bukari and his fellow teammates for their commendable performance in England.
“After the lead at halftime, I told the team that they had to keep playing, because I knew that Manchester City would press in the second half. They scored quickly in the second half but we were brave and kept fighting.
“We tried to press, but we didn’t succeed because their ball moves incredibly. We fought, we can look in the mirror and I’m proud of the team. We will transfer this energy to the next game,” he said after the game, as quoted by crvenazvezdafk.com.
As previously reported by Sports Brief, Bukari achieved his maiden goal in the UEFA Champions League group stage by opening the scoring during the match againstManchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The Ghanaian forward, who represents the Black Stars, found the net just before halftime after skillfully evading the offside trap to connect with a pass from Mirko Ivanic.
Bukari played a pivotal role in Red Star Belgrade’s qualification for the group stage, delivering outstanding performances throughout the qualifiers.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed concern, stating that his team is facing a challenging situation following the injury to Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva (29).
Silva, who recently extended his contract with City until 2026, had to leave the field before halftime during City’s 3-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade in their Champions League opening match on Tuesday.
City is already dealing with the absence of crucial players like Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Jack Grealish, and Mateo Kovacic, all of whom are sidelined due to injuries.
“He (Silva) didn’t say anything at the end,” Guardiola said.
“I didn’t speak with the doctors, but apparently, for the next games, he won’t be able to play.”
Premier League leaders Manchester City next host Nottingham Forest on Saturday, looking to make it six wins from six, but Guardiola is worried about the impact of having so many key players absent at the same time.
“We are in trouble but I am not going to say, ‘Oh, we have a lot of injuries,’”he told reporters.
“When we have five important players—really, really important players—injured. To sustain that for a long time will be difficult. But it is what it is.”
Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho reportedly intends to depart Old Trafford in January, as stated by the Daily Star.
Last week, the 23-year-old publicly contested comments made by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, who cited poor training performances as the reason for dropping Sancho in the 3-1 loss to Arsenal.
Sources informed ESPN that the two were scheduled to have a “clear the air” discussion at Carrington on Monday. However, the Daily Star reports that this meeting did not go well, resulting in a complete breakdown in their relationship.
It’s now suggested that Sancho may have already played his final match for the Red Devils. The club is said to be exploring potential loan deals that may include either mandatory or optional clauses for a permanent transfer.
Since his £73 million move from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, Sancho has scored 12 goals in 82 appearances for Manchester United. There have also been reports linking him with a return to the Bundesliga with Dortmund.
David Silva thinks that Arsenal is the only team that can compete with Manchester City for the Premier League championship this year.
Mikel Arteta’s team was Manchester City’s main competition last season, but they didn’t perform well towards the end of the season and finished five points behind Pep Guardiola’s team. Manchester City ended up winning three major trophies.
Manchester United came in third place last season, but their start this season has been up and down. Newcastle United finished in the Champions League spot last season, but they have not been doing well so far this season with three losses in their first four games.
Arsenal has won three games and recently added Declan Rice to their midfield. Silva believes that with this new addition, Arsenal will give tough competition to City this season.
Silva said that the City team has some incredible players. This is Pep’s eighth year at City. In the beginning, he was getting used to the Premier League, but now they are almost impossible to stop.
Arsenal is the only team I think that might have a chance of challenging City. The others I doubt they are able to do it.
I saw most of City’s games in the Champions League last year. Even though I couldn’t win it when I was there, I am really happy that the club was able to win it.
‘They should have it because they earned it. The club should win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. The supporters also deserve the team to achieve all three titles, which is known as the Treble. It was a great accomplishment.
Premier League champions Manchester City have officially secured the signing of Portugal midfielder Matheus Nunes (25) from Wolverhampton Wanderers, committing to a five-year contract.
While specific financial terms were not disclosed, reports in British media indicate that City paid approximately £53 million to Wolves for the transfer.
“The opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest managers ever, and alongside some of the best players in the world was something I couldn’t turn down,” Nunes said.
“I’ve learned so much during my season at Wolves and I’m excited to continue improving in the Premier League, a division that brings the best out of me.”
Nunes had been absent from training with the squad, Wolves manager Gary O’Neil said, after Wolves rejected City’s initial £47 million bid.
Wolves signed the Brazilian-born Nunes last August for a then club-record transfer fee of 45 million euros from Sporting on a five-year contract.
Nunes has played 11 times for Portugal, having turned down a call-up from his native Brazil. He scored one international goal in a World Cup qualifier against Turkey and was included in his country’s squad for last year’s Qatar World Cup.
The midfielder made 34 Premier League appearances for Wolves last season and started their first two league games this term. He was sent off in the 4-1 defeat byBrighton & Hove Albion.
Manchester City rejected Chelsea‘s initial proposal for Cole Palmer, but a deal for the attacking midfielder is likely to be agreed upon at a value of approximately £45 million.
Chelsea is interested in signing Palmer, who is 21 years old, as a new player before the summer transfer window closes.
Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to a transfer for the England Under-21 player, wanting to add another player to the attacking team before Friday’s deadline.
The Evening Standard said that City did not accept Chelsea’s first offer of £35m for Palmer.
The city is asking for £50 million for a player from their academy. The report says that they are close to reaching an agreement, and they will probably find a compromise.
Palmer still has three more years on his contract at the Eithad Stadium. Pep Guardiola is willing to keep him, but it may be hard for Palmer to get chances to play on the main team because there are already many good attacking players on City’s team.
Palmer has only played 10 minutes in the Premier League this season. He came into the game late during the first victory against Burnley.
He also played in the Uefa Super Cup final against Sevilla and scored a goal. City won the match 5-4 on penalties.
Palmer has played in 41 games for City in total since his first big game in September 2020. He played 19 of those games in the league.
City are about to add another player to their team before the deadline. They have agreed with Wolves to get midfielder Matheus Nunes.
According to The Daily Telegraph, a deal worth £60 million has been agreed upon, after the first offer of £47 million was turned down. The former famous athlete has decided to go on strike to make sure the transfer happens. They have refused to practice this week.
Another talented young player from Manchester City, Tommy Doyle, is going to join Wolverhampton Wanderers for £5 million. As part of the deal, Manchester City will receive 50% of any future sale of Doyle.
We are still talking about the final details of the deal, such as how we will pay for it and when we will make payments.
In the voting, the 23-year-old surpassed his teammates Kevin de Bruyne and John Stones, as well as Martin Odegaard from Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, and former Tottenham player Harry Kane, now with Bayern Munich.
Haaland’s exceptional performance resulted in him scoring 52 goals in 53 matches across all competitions in the past season. His contribution played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s triumphant campaign as they secured the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles.
Notably, the Norwegian international received further recognition in May, clinching the titles of Premier League Player of the Season and the Football Writers’ Association’s Men’s Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, Saka achieved his first PFA Young Player of the Year award after being nominated for the fourth consecutive season.
On the women’s side, Rachel Daly, the Aston Villa striker, clinched the PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year award by emerging as the top scorer in the Women’s Super League with an impressive 22 goals.
Pep Guardiola will not be able to coach Manchester City in their next two Premier League games because he is recovering from a small operation on his back.
The club’s website said that Guardiola has been having really bad back pain. He traveled to Barcelona to get emergency surgery from Dr Mireia Illueca.
They are saying that the surgery went well and the manager will now have therapy in a Spanish city. He is expected to return to his coaching position after the international break in September.
This means that the 52-year-old will not be able to go to City’s game against Sheffield United on Sunday, as well as the game against Fulham at the Etihad on 2nd September.
If everything goes as planned, his first game when he returns will be against West Ham at the London Stadium on 16th September.
Until now, it has been said that assistant manager Juanma Lillo will be in charge of training the first-team players and will be the main person on the sidelines for the team Citizen.
The teams Marseille and Manchester City are playing against each other in Group C of the UEFA Champions League. Juanma Lillo came back to work as an assistant manager for Man City again this year.
Everyone at Manchester City hopes Pep gets better quickly and can come back to Manchester soon.
The city team has had a really good start this season. They won their first two games against Burnley and Newcastle. They are tied with Brighton and Arsenal in terms of points, but Brighton is ahead of them because of the number of goals they have scored.
Guardiola also helped the team win their first UEFA Super Cup by beating Sevilla on penalties in Athens. However, they lost the Community Shield shootout against the Gunners in the season’s first game.
Good news for City. They are going to sign a very talented winger named Jeremy Doku from Rennes. The deal is worth £55. 5 million
In addition to joking that Fulham should be seeking to win the Premier League, Bernd Leno is adamant that they should be looking to finish the job and qualify for Europe this season.
A run of eight losses in their last 13 matches in the top division put an end to the Germany goalkeeper’s hopes of qualifying for Europe last season.
Even though their outstanding first season back in the top flight came to an end in tenth place, Marco Silva’s team was at least spared the scrap for relegation.
After the Londoners’ 1-0 victory at Everton on Saturday, Leno thinks they should once again set lofty goals.
When asked about Fulham’s goals for the upcoming season, he said, “Same as last season – after 20-25 matches we can change the target and say, “We go for Europe or mid-table or whatever” or for the (league) trophy.” No, I’m kidding.
We “only prepare for [the upcoming game] and not what might occur in May of next year.”
Leno asserts that the fact that Fulham managed to keep Manchester City and Manchester United close both at home and away last season should give supporters hope that they can compete with their more seasoned rivals on an equal level.
I think now everyone is aware of our competitiveness. We are capable of competing against the top clubs, especially at home,’ he continued. You can tell that United and City fought against us by looking at them.
‘At the end, we lost these games, but as you can see, the outcome depended on little things, like a goal versus United in the final seconds.
It will be a struggle because we know how to compete with these teams and they know what to anticipate from us.
The Fulham No. 1 acknowledges that the fact that the transfer window is still open and players like Aleksandar Mitrovic and Joao Palhinha are drawing interest will make the coming weeks challenging.
Al-Hilal, a Saudi club, sought Mitrovic, and manager Silva rejected a £40 million deal from Al-Ahli. Al-Hilal is expected to make a new offer of £47 million. West Ham and Liverpool have both been mentioned in connection with Palhinha.
Before Saturday’s home derby against Brentford, there might also be incomings, and Leno said: “Every season you have the same problem.” I arrived the day before the opening match versus Liverpool the previous season. Because I didn’t train much at Arsenal, I didn’t participate in any preseason games or friendlies.
“I had no rhythm, so I had to adjust as quickly as possible, but that’s what we do and why we’re professionals,” the speaker said. I don’t worry about it because the team is really easy to adapt to and the fans help players adapt and gain confidence.
Leno was tight with Aaron Ramsdale, who later took over as the Gunners’ custodian after Leno departed the Emirates in quest of regular first-team action.
Ramsdale recently disclosed that his wife lost her unborn child in January. When asked if he had contacted Ramsdale, Leno replied, “No, not yet. He’s a genuinely nice man, and I believe I truly admire him as a person. Even when we were both goalkeepers for Arsenal, our friendship was great.
“I’m going to talk to him soon, and I think it’s great that he speaks so openly about his personal life. I wish him the best in the future.”
In addition to joking that Fulham should be seeking to win the Premier League, Bernd Leno is adamant that they should be looking to finish the job and qualify for Europe this season.
A run of eight losses in their last 13 matches in the top division put an end to the Germany goalkeeper’s hopes of qualifying for Europe last season.
Even though their outstanding first season back in the top flight came to an end in tenth place, Marco Silva’s team was at least spared the scrap for relegation.
After the Londoners’ 1-0 victory at Everton on Saturday, Leno thinks they should once again set lofty goals.
When asked about Fulham’s goals for the upcoming season, he said to Metro: “Same as last season – after 20-25 matches we can change the target and say, “We go for Europe or mid-table or whatever” or for the (league) trophy.” No, I’m kidding.
We “only prepare for [the upcoming game] and not what might occur in May of next year.”
Leno asserts that the fact that Fulham managed to keep Manchester City and Manchester United close both at home and away last season should give supporters hope that they can compete with their more seasoned rivals on an equal level.
I think now everyone is aware of our competitiveness. We are capable of competing against the top clubs, especially at home,’ he continued. You can tell that United and City fought against us by looking at them.
‘At the end we lost these games but you saw they were decided by details – in the last minute against United.
‘We know how we can compete against these teams and they also know what they can expect from us so it will be a challenge.’
The Fulham No.1 admits the fact the transfer window remains open, with the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Joao Palhinha attracting attention, ensures the next few weeks will not be easy.
While manager Silva turned down a £40 million offer from Al-Ahli, the Saudi club Al-Hilal wanted striker Mitrovic. Al-Hilal is expected to make a new offer of £47 million. West Ham and Liverpool have both been connected to Palhinha.
Leno said: “Every season you have the same problem.” There might possibly be incomings before this Saturday’s home derby against Brentford. The previous season, I arrived the day before the opening match against Liverpool. I didn’t participate in any friendly or preseason games because I didn’t train much at Arsenal.
“I had no rhythm, so I had to adjust as quickly as possible, but that’s what we do and why we’re professionals,” the speaker said. I don’t worry about it because the team is really easy to adapt to and the fans help players adapt and gain confidence.
Leno was tight with Aaron Ramsdale, who later took over as the Gunners’ custodian after Leno departed the Emirates in quest of regular first-team action.
Ramsdale recently disclosed that his wife lost her unborn child in January. When asked if he had contacted Ramsdale, Leno replied, “No, not yet. He’s a genuinely nice man, and I believe I truly admire him as a person. Even when we were both goalkeepers for Arsenal, our friendship was great.
“I’m going to talk to him soon, and I think it’s great that he speaks so openly about his personal life. I wish him the best in the future.”
Oleksandr Zinchenko is’very’ close to returning to full health, according to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, but the Gunners will be without Gabriel Jesus for a while.
Zinchenko missed the Gunners’ victory over Nottingham Forest on opening weekend as he continues to recover from a calf injury he suffered in May.
Since coming from Manchester City last season, the Ukraine captain has been a fan favourite, and now that Jurrien Timber is injured, his position in the team is even more crucial.
The good news is that Arteta claims the defender is getting closer to making a comeback.
On Thursday morning, Arteta told reporters, “He’s been training with us and hopefully we’re going to have him available very, very soon.”
Less encouraging news was reported regarding Jesus, who has been sidelined for the past two weeks due to having to have knee surgery.
The Brazilian is still a ways off from playing for the first squad, Arteta acknowledges.
“Gabby [Jesus] is still not available and not fit, but the rest are all good,” the Spaniard stated.
The undisclosed offer has met Manchester City’s valuation for center-back Aymeric Laporte, rendering him eligible to engage in negotiations regarding terms with the Saudi Pro League team.
With Pep Guardiola’s squad in Athens ahead of the Super Cup match against Sevilla, Laporte is now a viable target for Al Nassr.
The club aims to secure Laporte as their latest high-profile acquisition, joining the ranks of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozovic, and Alex Telles.
Throughout the summer, Manchester City have been open to offers for Laporte, a decision prompted by his descent in the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium in the previous season.
Additionally, the club’s recent signing of Josko Gvardiol, another left-footed center-back, for €90 million has further limited Laporte’s opportunities for consistent playing time.
With John Stones, Rúben Dias, Nathan Aké, and Manuel Akanji also available, Guardiola has multiple options in the centre of defence.
In a parallel development, sources from ESPN have revealed that Manchester City is still awaiting offers for João Cancelo.
The Portuguese full-back was not included in the squad for the victory over Burnley and will be allowed to leave the club once the appropriate bid materialises.
Discussions between City and Barcelona have centred around a potential loan arrangement with an obligation for a permanent transfer.
However, according to sources, Barcelona has not yet presented a formal offer for the player.
Following their remarkable achievement of securing the treble last season, the English club recognises the significance of maintaining their dominance in the domestic league while contending on the European stage.
In order to provide ample support tomanager Pep Guardiola, the influential figures overseeing Manchester City are collaborating closely with him to acquire the necessary reinforcements.
In recent weeks, the spotlight has been on a potential addition to the English Premier League powerhouse, namely Jeremy Doku.
The young Belgian forward, with Ghanaian heritage, has emerged as a candidate for a move to Manchester City.
Excitingly, it has now been confirmed that Jeremy Doku has committed to a five-year contract, marking his forthcoming venture as a player for Manchester City.
The decision to join the Citizens was solidified after discussions with the city’s manager, Pep Guardiola.
Presently, at 21 years old, Jeremy Doku awaits the consensus between Manchester City and his current club, Stade Rennais FC, to finalise the terms of his transfer.
Upon investigation, it has been determined that the anticipated transfer fee for the forward’s move is estimated at approximately 55 million euros.
Jeremy Doku’s acquisition is poised to fill the void left by Algerian forward Riyad Mahrez, who departed from Manchester City earlier in the summer.
His strong desire to join the Red Devils is evident.
However, a significant obstacle has emerged due to the current disagreement between the two clubs regarding the transfer fee, as reported by Sky Sports.
The French national, who is versatile in both right-back and centre-back positions, is nearing the end of his current contract, with just one year remaining.
His expected price tag falls within the range of £30 million ($38 million) to £35 million ($44 million).
The success of this transfer also depends on the unfolding situation involving Harry Maguire, who is presently engaged in discussions with West Ham regarding a potential move.
Bayern Munich’s plan to replace Pavard withManchester City’s Kyle Walker has been thwarted, as Walker has opted to stay with the Premier League champions.
Manchester United has pursued alternative avenues in the transfer market, including exploring the option of signing Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice.
Discussions with Todibo’s representatives have reportedly taken place, according to the same sources.
Ongoing discussions with the Premier League champions are underway regarding the 29-year-old Portuguese international. Manager Xavi Hernandez has expressed interest in acquiring a wingback who can contribute offensively.
Barcelona is restricted from proposing a complete transfer deal for Cancelo. However, there is optimism regarding the potential for a loan arrangement with a subsequent option to secure a permanent signing.
Cancelo is currently under contract at Etihad until the 2026–27 season.
As per Nicolo Schira, personal terms between Barca and Cancelo have been agreed upon.
Negotiations between the two clubs are set to persist, focused on finalising the structure of the proposed season-long loan agreement.
Despite being less favoured by Pep Guardiola last season, Cancelo secured two league title medals as he was loaned to Bayern Munich, who ultimately becameBundesliga champions, in January.
Manchester City, the reigning champions of the English Premier League, are actively seeking to bolster their team by acquiring the promising Belgian forward Jeremy Doku.
The football club based in Manchester is said to be engaged in advanced negotiations with the French club Stade Rennais FC to secure the talents of this young attacker, who hails from Ghanaian heritage.
Aged 21, Jeremy Doku has been a part of the French Ligue 1 since 2020, when he made the transition from Belgian side RSC Anderlecht during his teenage years.
Despite contending with injuries, he has shown commendable growth in his skills and performance since joining Stade Rennais FC.
Doku is not only recognised as one of the swiftest players at his current club but also stands out in the entire French Ligue 1.
For Manchester City, Jeremy Doku has the potential to fill the void left by Riyad Mahrez, who has departed for Saudi Arabia.
The Manchester-based team is aiming to finalise this transfer swiftly, particularly with the English Premier League having commenced on August 11th.
The addition of Jeremy Doku to their roster will notably enhance Manchester City’s squad depth, a vital asset as they strive to uphold their English Premier League championship and contend for further honours throughout the season.
Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that replicating Manchester City’s treble triumph will be “impossible” due to its status as a unique “once in a lifetime” accomplishment.
In the 2022–23 season, the Sky Blues achieved historic success by clinching the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles.
This feat marked the first time since Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999 that a team had secured the treble.
Although the Spanish manager has welcomed the arrivals of Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, he maintains that achieving a similar feat will be an immensely challenging endeavour.
“It is once in a lifetime. It will not be possible to do what we did last season,” he told reporters.
“We climbed the highest mountain last season, but in the last two days we came down from it, and now we start again.
“Everyone has the same intention, and there will be a lot of difficulties to climb the mountain as high as possible. Our football, our level, and our mentality will dictate how the season will be,” he added.
Guardiola was surprised to learn that Tottenham have agreed to sell Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, for a figure of over €100 million (£86 million or $110 million), as the manager failed in his bid to bring the England international to the Etihad a few years ago despite leaving no stone unturned.
When asked about his opinion on the move, Guardiola did hide his astonishment: “Is that [correct]? Officially?”
After a brief pause, he added: “Everybody knows [what qualities he brings to the table]. Just take a look at him and how good he is. He has great attributes and is a top striker. Right, left, header, dropping, quality of play assists, scoring goals arriving.
“An exceptional striker who has shown it for many, many years. Just Alan Shearer is ahead of him as the Premier League’s top goalscorer and exceptional player.”
Rodri of Manchester City has expressed his apprehension about the adverse effects of playing an excessive number of matches on his well-being.
He has sounded a warning about the challenging schedule of the intense Premier League calendar.
Notably, both Kevin De Bruyne and Raphael Varane from Manchester United have also voiced their concerns regarding the strain of participating in numerous matches throughout a season.
These concerns have arisen in the context of efforts to accurately account for time lost due to interruptions in various competitions this season, encompassing factors like goal celebrations and VAR reviews.
In the midst of these discussions, Rodri, a prominent figure at Manchester City, has shared his worries about the congested football itinerary.
Having played in 56 matches during City’s triumphant treble-winning campaign last season, he is wary of the potential detrimental impact on his physical well-being posed by such a packed football schedule.
When asked if he felt he got enough rest this summer, he said: “To be honest, I never get enough rest. I feel pretty well recovered after having about a month off. It was a good break, and we have a coach who understands and who gives us everything he can to recover.
“I think we are the last team in the Premier League to start pre-season because he understands that rest is important. So, yes, I’m very happy about last season and how it finished, and now we go into another season, and it’s going to be a long one.”
The Spaniard added: “I don’t remember exactly the games I played, but I had a talk with the club and the coach because starting 57 or 59 games and playing in 60 or something is not healthy.
“You can do it for one season, but when it’s two or three in a row, it can be worse for the team because your physicality can drop. So I have to watch out. We have already spoken that it cannot always be like this. But last year, on the other hand, I had the feeling that we were fighting for everything, and I had to push my body to the limit.
“That’s why I sometimes feel bad at the end of the season—but for me, it was great. The important thing for me is that they know the situation, and they know that for the next few seasons we will have to watch out.
“Now I am young, but maybe when I get to 30 or 31 I cannot do this kind of thing, so I have to watch the body because 60 games is not the best thing for a player. Also, the seasons get even longer every year. We have to adapt to this.”
More and more top players are speaking out about an overly congested fixture list. This could potentially shorten the careers of many footballers and have knock-on effects later in life.
This is not helped by theWorld Cup expanding to 48 teams from 32 and plans to increase the number of sides playing in European competitions, too. However, that brings in more revenue for tournament organisers, and that needs to be considered in this whole topic.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, in response to receiving a booking for mimicking a yellow card gesture, has asserted that he “cannot change in three days” and has refrained from offering any apologies.
In the 2023–24 season, Arteta became the inaugural Premier League manager to be penalised under the new regulations that emphasise strict actions against those who vocally request cautions from referees and engage in confrontations with them.
Referees have been instructed to be vigilant in curbing such behaviours. Despite Arteta’s knowledge of these guidelines prior to a Community Shield encounter against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, his caution in the first half for gesturing a yellow card motion towards Stuart Attwell indicated that he may not have fully internalised these directives.
Arteta told reporters afterwards, when asked about the new rules that he has already broken: “I cannot change my behaviour in three days. It’s a very difficult thing to do, and next time we cannot ask him to say, Okay, tomorrow we play with no offsides’ and the linesman says, What is he doing?’.
“We try our best, and I try my best. I understand the rules, and I understand where they’re coming from. But we can get frustrated there because sometimes we don’t know what part of the technical area we are. But it’s fine, we will adapt.”
Following Arsenal’s penalty victory over City, Arteta appeared to be in high spirits. The Gunners capitalised on yet another new directive that involves extended stoppage time. In the 101st minute, Leandro Trossard’s deflected equaliser found the net.
The decision to prolong matches significantly beyond the traditional 90-minute mark has garnered a varied range of reactions.
Arteta is a fan, with the Spaniard saying: “At the end, it’s about effective time. I think it’s really good to do that because it was going too far I think and now teams are going to have to think twice. Now we have to be prepared to play 100 minutes because it’s going to happen every single week.”
Arsenal, with silverware already under their belt, are set to open their 2023–24 Premier League campaign at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Manchester City is reportedly on the verge of completing a groundbreaking deal for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol by the week’s end.
Despite various top European clubs expressing interest in the Croatian international over the past year, Manchester City appears poised to secure his services.
According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, an astonishing fee of £86 million (€90 million/$98 million), including additional provisions, has been agreed upon. Gvardiol’s medical examination is scheduled at the Etihad Stadium this upcoming Friday.
Upon completion, Gvardiol will become the costliest defender in football history, eclipsing the £80 million (€87 million/$96 million) fee Manchester United paid Leicester City for Harry Maguire in 2019.
This acquisition is a significant enhancement to Manchester City’s defensive lineup, which was already among the Premier League’s strongest last season, allowing only 33 goals, a figure matched only by Newcastle United.
Gvardiol will join his compatriot Mateo Kovacic in Manchester, following the central midfielder’s £25 million (€29 million/$32 million) transfer from Chelsea earlier in the summer.
According to Kovacic, Gvardiol is well-prepared for the step up to Manchester City and has his support in showcasing his “best version.”
After securing their fifth Premier League title in six seasons, Manchester City evidently refuses to rest on their laurels.
The addition of Kovacic is a vital boost to the squad, and manager Pep Guardiola will be aiming to reinforce the roster further during the summer, especially in light of potential departures like Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan.
Manchester City’s pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid in Seoul faced a half-hour delay due to torrential rain.
Heavy rain in the South Korean capital caused the match to be postponed for at least 30 minutes, with images on social media revealing the pitch at the Seoul World Cup stadium submerged in water.
Today's match against Atletico Madrid has been delayed due to adverse weather conditions.
Pep Guardiola fielded a full-strength starting line-up for the match against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, with Ederson in goal and Erling Haaland leading the attack.
This match marked the third and final game of City’s tour of Asia, having previously secured a 5-3 victory against Yokohama F Marinos in Tokyo and a 3-1 win over Bayern Munich in the Japanese capital before arriving in South Korea.
Following their Asian tour, Manchester City will take on Arsenal in the Community Shield on August 6, and their Premier League title defense will begin with an away fixture against Burnley on August 11.
RB Leipzig has set a deadline forManchester City’s pursuit of Josko Gvardiol to The Daily Mail.
The Bundesliga club is keen to have the deal concluded before the start of the Premier League season.
Despite ongoing negotiations for several months, the two clubs have not been able to reach an agreement on the potential fee for the Croatian star.
While personal terms have not been a problem, Manchester City has not yet met RB Leipzig’s €100 million demands for Gvardiol.
As a result, the Germans have set the start of the Premier League season as a deadline, as they want to settle their squad before the Bundesliga season kicks off.
Manchester City has officially announced that Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez has completed a £30 million transfer to Al-Ahli, a club in the Saudi Pro League.
The 32-year-old has signed a contract until 2027 with his new team and is reportedly set to earn an impressive £750,000 per week.
Dear Cityzens,
Today marks the end of an unforgettable chapter in my life, a five-year journey filled with countless memories. Before leaving, I wanted to thank the board, the manager and the staff for giving me the chance to prove myself at the highest level.
After joining Manchester City in 2018 from Leicester City for a fee of £60 million, Mahrez experienced remarkable success during his time at the Etihad Stadium.
All the best for the future, Riyad! 🫶@Mahrez22 ends his five year stay at City to join Al-Ahli Saudi Football Club. pic.twitter.com/zQCathsWIJ
He played a key role in the team’s achievements, contributing to four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three Carabao Cups, and the coveted Champions League trophy.
Mahrez’s departure from Manchester City marks the end of an era for the talented winger, who has now embarked on a new chapter of his career in Saudi Arabia.
He was given permission to miss City’s pre-season trip to Japan and South Korea to finalize the move to Al-Ahli.
Manchester City secured a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich during their pre-season tour in Japan, with goals coming from James McAtee (20) and Aymeric Laporte (29). This marked the European champions’ second win of the tour.
Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel scored the lone goal for his team, as they sought to avenge their 4-1 aggregate loss to City in last season’s Champions League quarter-finals.
In the intense heat at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, both teams took some time to size each other up during the opening 15 minutes of the match.
Leroy Sane, who played for both Bayern Munich and Manchester City in the past, showed skill and attempted to set up Jamal Musiala in the 17th minute, but Nathan Ake’s block denied the scoring chance.
Shortly after, Sane struck a powerful free-kick from 25 yards out, only to be denied by the crossbar.
James McAtee, who had a successful loan spell at Sheffield United last season, opened the scoring forManchester City in the 21st minute, giving them an early lead in the match.
The lively Rico Lewis broke into the Bayern penalty area and tee up Julian Alvarez, but after goalkeeper Yann Sommer saved the Argentinian’s low strike at full stretch the 20-year-old McAtee tapped the rebound into the unguarded net.
Thomas Tuchel sent out an entirely different XI for the second half, while City manager Guardiola opted to make eight half-time changes.
Water breaks were also enforced midway through each half in the sweltering heat in the Japanese capital.
Tel levelled for Bayern with nine minutes to play, converting a rebound from close range after City goalkeeper Ederson had denied Paul Wanner.
Laporte restored City’s lead five minutes later, tucking home neatly afterPhil Foden nudged a rebound into his path.
Manchester City is set to break records by makingJosko Gvardiol the most expensive defender in the world with a whopping €100m (£86m) bid for the RB Leipzig star.
Throughout the summer, City has been linked with Gvardiol and had an initial bid of £77m ($99m) rejected.
However, they have now met Leipzig’s demand of £86m, presenting an offer comprising £77m plus £9m ($10m) in add-ons, according to Sport Bild.
Although there is an expectation that Gvardiol will join City this summer, Leipzig has not yet accepted the offer.
They are seeking more realistic performance-based goals to be included in the £9m add-ons.
Should the move materialize, Gvardiol will become the most expensive defender in history, surpassing Harry Maguire’s £80m transfer to Manchester United from Leicester City in 2019 ($97m).
Leipzig are not under any pressure to sell Gvardiol, having already seen Dominik Szoboszlai leave to join Liverpool, and he has a release clause in his contract worth €112m (£96m/$124m) that activates next summer, meaning the club could attempt to keep him until then.
Still, they are hopeful of clarifying his future before the transfer deadline in case they need to buy a replacement.
During Manchester City’s pre-season tour in Tokyo,superstar striker Erling Haaland received a delightful surprise from his teammates on his 23rd birthday.
Jack Grealish warmly welcomed him into a room where a birthday cake had been prepared, and the team serenaded Haaland with a cheerful rendition of the happy birthday song.
City will play friendly matches in Japan and South Korea as they prepare to defend their Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup titles next season.
Haaland will use the tour to get back to full fitness and boost his hopes of improving on last season’sGolden Boot-winning tally of 36 Premier League goals.
Haaland and his co-stars will take on Yokohama F. Marinos in their first pre-season match on Sunday.
Declan Rice’s departure from West Ham has been officially announced, and he will soon join Arsenal in a British transfer record.
Following the historic Europa Conference League victory last season, the England international made it plain that he wanted to leave the Hammers.
The 24-year-old was Mikel Arteta’s top summer target, and after protracted discussions that nearly fell apart due to rival interest from Manchester City, the Gunners are finally close to landing their man.
The decision to let Rice depart has been a difficult one for all at the east London club, but a £105million cash injection will go some way to sweetening the deal and allow manager David Moyes the opportunity to strengthen his own squad.
In a statement confirming Rice’s imminent departure, Joint-Chair David Sullivan said: ‘I am sorry to see Declan leave us, but I believe that everyone at West Ham United should be very proud of the part we have played in his journey from the Academy of Football at Chadwell Heath to becoming the most valuable young player in English football.
‘I would like to make it clear to our supporters that we did not want to sell Declan. We wanted to build our team around him and made a series of improved, long-term contract offers to secure his future. However, once Declan made it clear that he wished to move on and seek a new challenge, the Club felt it would not be right to stand in his way, acting in the best interests of West Ham United.
‘He leaves with the sincere thanks, respect and love of everyone here, having earned his place in history alongside the great Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds as the only players to have captained West Ham United to a major trophy. More than that, he has always given absolutely everything for the football club throughout his time with us.
‘Declan will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Hammers fans and everyone here at the Club. We wish him well for the future and he will always be an inspiration and an example to any young player coming through our Academy.’
Moyes added: ‘I’d like to personally thank Declan for everything he has done during his time at West Ham United. Obviously it is sad when we say goodbye to someone who has been with us for so long but we must now look forward.
‘West Ham United is a huge Club and, as history shows, no player is ever bigger than the Club.
‘Our entire focus now is on building upon the success we enjoyed last season, adding to our talented UEFA Europa Conference League title winning squad as we enter our third consecutive season in Europe, and continuing to develop the best young talent through our successful Academy.’
A number of new regulations are expected to be implemented with just over a month until the start of the 2023–24Premier League season.
The highly anticipated campaign is scheduled to kick off in August, and the fixture schedule has already been published, showcasing a lineup of exciting matches for the opening weekend.
According to Sky Sports, the reigning champions, Manchester City, will begin their title defense with an intriguing clash against Burnley on August 11, marking a reunion with former player Vincent Kompany.
The report further states that the season will reach its conclusion on the weekend of May 19 next year, featuring matches such as Manchester City versus West Ham United and Arsenal versus Everton.
However, these captivating encounters will take place under a fresh set of rules that will be implemented at the commencement of the season.
EPL rules for next season
Sportbible reports that next season will look a little different for fans and players, with four new rules taking effect from August onwards. The new guidelines have been set by the International Football Association Board, the body mandated to make rules.
Key among the new rules is a ‘greater allowance’ for time lost due to goal celebrations. As such, there is a possibility of more time being added on at the end of each half if teams take longer to celebrate after scoring.
Secondly, as is now the case, goalkeepers will no longer be able to cause any form of distraction to penalty takers when spot kicks are awarded, perhaps due to Emiliano Martinez’s antics.
Thirdly, reserve assistant referees on the sidelines will now equally have increased participation, receiving equal support and assistance as the primary on-field officials, commonly known as the ‘man in the middle’.
The fourth new guideline is that players can now avoid being yellow-carded for ‘unsporting behaviour’ if they are making a deliberate attempt to play the ball.
Lastly, there is the change to the controversial offside law. Under the new guidelines, a player who is ‘clearly offside’ should not become onside every time an opponent moves and touches the ball.
FIFA to test handball rules
Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Arsene Wenger’s calls for a change to the offside rules being seemingly set to bear fruit with the world governing body for football, FIFA set to trial new proposals.
The legendary former Arsenal manager has been vocal in his calls for the current rules to be changed, having served as FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development since he left the team in 2018.
Under the current dispensation, a player is often deemed offside when any part of their body that can play the ball is ahead of the last defender, often leading to Video Assistant Referee checks.
The Spanish coach took up the position in 2016, taking over from Manuel Pellegrini. Prior to his arrival in England, Guardiola had spent three successful years at Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
During his remarkable seven-year tenure at Manchester City, the former Barcelona manager has achieved great success, triumphing in nearly every major competition.
Numbers behind Guardiola’s stint
ESPN reports that Guardiola has been in charge of City in 413 games since his arrival and has managed to win an impressive 300 matches across all competitions.
More than 1,000 goals have been scored by the Spaniard’s charges, with an incredible 14 trophies lifted in the process.
Key among the trophies include five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Other trophies the 52-year-old has won during his spell with the Cityzens include two FA Cups, four League Cups, and two Community Shields.
The 2022/23 campaign was Guardiola’s most successful season during his tenure at the Etihad Stadium, as he helped City become only the second Premier League team after rivals Man United to win the treble.
The Manchester club beat Arsenal to the Premier League crown before seeing off United in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
The side added the Champions League to their trophy haul after they stunned Serie A giants Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul.
Messi praises Guardiola
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Guardiola has been crowned the ‘best coach in the world’ by Lionel Messi following the former’s treble success with Manchester City.
After years of heartbreak and near misses, Guardiola – widely recognised for unlocking Messi’s extraordinary potential – finally got his hands on the coveted UEFA Champions League trophy as the manager of Man City.
In the world of football, money plays a significant role, but it doesn’t guarantee success. Football clubs nowadays are increasingly willing to spend large sums of money in their relentless pursuit of trophies.
Unfortunately, numerous instances have shown that even top-quality players and high-profile signings often fail to live up to their exorbitant transfer fees.
Sports Brief delves into the realm of expensive transfers that ultimately fell short of expectations.
One such example was a transfer fee so exorbitant that La Liga initially refused to accept the payment.
PSG disregarded Financial Fair Play regulations and directly handed the money to Barcelona, activating a release clause that was designed to make such transfers nearly impossible.
This turn of events made Neymar, according to reports from Goal, the most expensive signing in the history of football.
The Brazilian however has failed to dish out a performance worthy of his price tag, as he is always hit with season-ending injuries in the crucial part of the football season.
Eden Hazard – £143m/€160m (Chelsea to Real Madrid, July 2019)
The initial payment of £88.5m alone would have been a disastrous transfer, but Hazard has accidentally activated enough variables in between numerous injuries to make this an all-time great waste of money.
Hazard featured 76 times for Real Madrid in four years. Image: Angel Martinez. Source: Getty Images
So disastrous was Hazard’s disastrous stint at Real Madrid that the club opted to end his contract a year early, paying off the Belgian in the process. Hazard featured just 76 times for Real Madrid in four seasons at the Spanish capital.
Philippe Coutinho – £142m/€160m (Liverpool to Barcelona, January 2018)
It’s difficult to pinpoint the most wrong aspect of this deal from a buyer’s perspective, but it’s somewhere between the £106m initial fee, the £26.4m in clauses paid out for Coutinho’s first 90 appearances, the £89m premium Barcelona reluctantly agreed to pay if they signed any further Liverpool players in the next two years, the fact Coutinho won the Champions League with Bayern Munich while on loan from the Nou Camp, scoring twice in the 8-2 quarter-final humiliation of the Catalans, or the knockdown price of £17m they sold the Brazilian to Aston Villa for after four underwhelming years.
Ousmane Dembele – £135m/€147m (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona, August 2017)
With a bruised ego and the Neymar cash burning a hole in their back pocket, Barcelona had tried all summer to sign Coutinho but after facing resistance from Liverpool, they went cap in hand to Dortmund for their back-up instead.
Surely Lessons were learned with a £369.6m release clause inserted this time – not that the Frenchman has ever come close to warranting such lavish interest.
Dembele has struggled with consistency since his move from Dortmund. Image: David Ramos. Source: Getty Images
Dembele’s time at Camp Nou has been plagued with injuries and loads of unhealthy sportsman habits. According to Transfermarkt.com, the French man has scored just 40 goals since his transfer in 2017.
Antoine Griezmann – £107m/€120m (Atletico Madrid to Barcelona, July 2019)
The Frenchman could no longer avoid the Barcelona pull in the summer of 2019 and eventually made the switch to the Camp Nou – a move he would eventually admit was a career mistake according to L’equipe.
Griezmann has somehow managed to remain without a La Liga winner’s medal through it all, timing his moves back and forth between Atletico and Barcelona. The French forward found the back of the net only 24 times in 102 appearances for the Blaugrana.
Joao Felix – £113m/€126m (Benfica to Atletico Madrid, July 2019)
Perhaps the worst match of player and manager there has ever been for a club-record transfer.
How strange that the skilful individualist forward who doesn’t track back never meshed with a totalitarian coach who demands suffering and sacrifice from his subordinates.
Joao Felix is seeking a move to PSG. Image: David S. Bustamante. Source: Getty Images
How strange that Atletico committed such sums on a teenager with 45 career first-team appearances. How strange that they can’t find someone to buy him. It’s a conundrum for Atleti and Joao Felix currently.
The Portuguese is reportedly linked with a move to PSG which is a move the 23-year-old will pray surely materialises.
Jadon Sancho – £73m/€85m (Borussia Dortmund to Man Utd, July 2021)
Across his two whole seasons with Man Utd, the forward has scored 12 goals and assisted six in 79 games.
According to Talksport, the disappointing forward is on the long list of players set to be shipped out of Carrington, and the club could accept £45m for him two years on. it’s not gone too well for Sancho so far.
Antony – £82m/€95m (Ajax to Man Utd, September 2022)
Erik ten Hag put all his eggs in the Antony basket but a few must have cracked in transit from Amsterdam, with the relatively slow and predominantly one-footed winger scoring eight goals and assisting three in a 44-game debut season.
Anthony has struggled to find his feet since making his switch from Ajax. Image: David Horton. Source: Getty Images
It remains to be seen if the forward can re-write prints at Old Trafford. Judging by what has been seen over time, not much improvement is expected from the former Ajax man.
Nicolas Pepe – £72m/€80m (Lille to Arsenal, August 2019)
After offering the closest challenge to Kylian Mbappe for the Ligue 1 Golden Boot, Arsenal spent what remains, for now, a club-record fee on a player who has since returned to France after long being outgrown by the upwardly moving Gunners.
Pepe’s spell at Arsenal remains a failure and he has been deemed surplus to requirement in Mikel Arteta’s new project.
RB Leipzig’s 21-year-old defender, Josko Gvardiol, has expressed his desire to joinManchester City, the treble-winning club, according to Leipzig sports director Max Eberl.
Eberl confirmed on Monday that Gvardiol has informed the club of his intention to leave.
Discussions are currently underway with Manchester City, who recently clinched their first Champions League title, regarding a potential transfer for the talented Croatian international.
“Josko and his advisors have submitted the wish to us for a transfer to Manchester City,” Eberl told Leipziger Volksnachrichten newspaper.
“We are in talks with Manchester. There is nothing more to say about it at this moment.”
The back-to-back German Cup winners have seen several top players leave with Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai’s move to Liverpool on Sunday being the most recent one.
Defender Konrad Laimer has moved to Bayern Munich while France international Christopher Nkunku has joined Chelsea in the Premier League.
“I can understand the disappointment and concern of the fans,” Eberl said. “No club and no coach in this world wants to lose players of this calibre.”
“But we have been prepared for this and I can promise that we will have once more a good and exciting team.”
Leipzig, who finished third in theBundesliga and will compete in the Champions League group stage, have brought in attacking midfielder Christoph Baumgartner and talented 20-year-old Slovenian Benjamin Sesko among others.
“We have already signed some good lads and will bring in more and exciting players,” Eberl said.
Manchester City is reportedly interested in pursuing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, after ending their pursuit of West Ham United’s Declan Rice according to the Sun.
De Jong, 26, has been linked with a potential departure from Camp Nou as Barcelona seeks to reduce their wage bill amid financial difficulties.
Although the Dutch midfielder is keen to stay at the club, Barcelona may consider selling him for a fee exceeding €100m.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has previously expressed admiration for De Jong and made an unsuccessful attempt to sign him in 2019. Meanwhile, Rice is reportedly close to joining Arsenal in a deal worth £100m plus add-ons.
Accusations of attempted and new rape against Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy have been made in court statements.
A BBC investigation revealed that Mendy claimed to have slept with 10,000 different women.
“It’s fine, I’ve had sex with 10,000 women,” a jury has heard as quoted by BBC.
The incidents are said to have taken place at Mendy’s residence in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, in October 2020, involving two women aged 24 and 29 at the time.
The accused footballer, 28 years old, has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The trial is currently taking place at Chester Crown Court, with a jury consisting of six women and six men.
The presiding judge, Stephen Everett, informed the jury that Mendy had been acquitted of previous sexual offense allegations brought by other women in a trial that concluded in January of this year.
The judge instructed the jurors to base their decision solely on the evidence presented in the current trial and advised against seeking information about the previous trial or following media coverage related to it.
The clearance was under the direction of Judge, Stephen Everett during a trial at Chester crown court on September 13, 2022.
According to The Guardian, the French international was found not guilty of the rape case raised against him by a 19-year-old woman.
Louis Saha Matturie, who is a co-accused by the same woman was also found not guilty of two rape counts and one sexual abuse.
In 2019, the 19-year-old woman accused Mendy and Matturie of multiple rape counts and sexual assaults that occurred in the Man City player’s home in Prestbury, Cheshire, on 24 July.
Despite being found not guilty, the two are still on trial for multiple sexual offences.
As the highly skilled West Ham midfielder is expected to depart from the club this summer, both Arsenal and Manchester City are engaged in a battle to secure his services.
On Tuesday, June 27, Manchester City made a £90 million offer for Rice, which was promptly turned down by West Ham.
In fact, several reports have suggested West Ham have been left angered by the bid as they feel it was disrespectful on Manchester City’s end.
While the Citizens will certainly need to revamp their midfield after losing Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona, Aluko believes Pep Guardiola is not necessarily keen on signing Rice.
“I think there’s a lot of cat and mouse going on here,” She said as quoted on TalkSport.
“I don’t think Manchester City actually want to sign Declan Rice, I think what’s going on is Arteta has picked up the phone to Pep [Guardiola] and said ‘listen, Arsenal are going to do the incremental bid approach, if you put a higher bid in, that will push my owner.”
Aluko was then asked whether this was a tactic to get signings to be done quickly, to which she replied:
“For speed, but to also get the deal done. Because West Ham obviously want a set valuation, I think £120m.”
Despite losing Gundogan. City have all but completed the signing of Matteo Kovacic, who is set to join the club from Chelsea in a £25million deal.
Before joining Arsenal, Mikel Arteta was Guardiola’s number two at Manchester City and the two oversaw the success of the team for several years.
Guardiola famously got one over his friend last season as Arsenal surrendered an 8-point lead at the top to enable City to set themselves up for a treble triumph.
Players set for summer switch
Sports Brief also reported on a list of big names set to make a move in the summer.
Clubs around the globe will be looking to offer the best deals to these free agents with the hope of eventually getting their signatures on the dotted lines of the contract papers.
The likes of Marco Asensio, Moussa Dembele and David De Gea all face uncertain futures and could make stunning transfers.
Arsenal has submitted a third bid forWest Ham United captain Declan Rice, aiming to secure his transfer in a move that would set a new record for a British player, according to the Athletic,
The Gunners have allegedly put forward an offer of £100 million, with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons.
This bid comes shortly after West Ham rejected Manchester City’s initial offer of £90 million for the talented England international.
City have already secured a £30m deal for Mateo Kovacic but also are keen to add Rice to their midfield options following Ilkay Gundogan’s decision to join Barcelona on a free transfer.
Since making his debut at age 18, Rice has made 245 appearances for the east London club. He has one year left on his contract, but West Ham also hold an option to extend his deal by a further year.
It has been widely reported that West Ham expects Rice to leave this summer but have so far held firm with their demands to receive a record fee for their midfield general.
Phil Foden’s son, Ronnie, is on the verge of internet fame even at a young age, having gathered one million Instagram followers in less than 24 hours.
Ronnie gained attention for his charming dance moves and posing for photos during the UEFA Champions League final celebrations.
Meanwhile, Phil Foden, who plays for Manchester City, came on as a substitute for the injured Kevin De Bruyne in the first half and played a crucial role in securing a 1-0 victory against Inter Milan at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul
The triumph was Man City’s first in the prestigious competition and helped complete a historic cup treble – the second for manager, Pep Guardiola.
Ronnie Foden followed by millions
Foden and his partner, Rebecca Cooke manage the Instagram account, which was likely opened after fans asked for more of their son’s cute antics.
ESPN FC spotted the followers count and reported it surpassed 1 million in less than 24 hours. He follows 64 people and has prominent followers like Chelsea star, Mason Mount.
According to Mirror UK, four-year-old Ronnie was given the nickname El Wey by some Spanish Man City fans after the final in Istanbul. The nickname is translated as ‘the dude’.
Sports Brief reported that Ronnie shared a cute moment with Rico Lewis after the final and was so immersed that he asked the academy graduate to send the video to his dad.
Lewis and El Wey were spotted dancing beside a car, with the 18-year-old filming the scene and the clip becoming one of the moments that introduced the child to the internet.
Foden scores a millennium goal
Sports Brief also reported that Foden scored Man City’s 1,000th goal underPep Guardiola’s reign with the third score in the 3-0 win over West Ham United.
He was a worthy scorer, with the 22-year-old’s rise to the first team orchestrated by the Spanish boss, who helped him transition fully into a senior team star.
The Premier League champions have officially announced that their captain has completed a move to Barcelona on a free transfer after the conclusion of his contract.
The 32-year-old German midfielder, who featured in 304 matches for City, served as the captain under Pep Guardiola and led the team to a Treble in the previous campaign.
In an emotional farewell message, he said: “For me it has been a total privilege and pleasure to be part of Manchester City for the last seven years.
“Manchester has been my home and I have felt part of a very special family at City.
“I have been lucky to have experienced so many unforgettable moments in my time here and to have been captain for this extra special season has been the greatest experience of my career.
“I will carry City always in my heart. Once a blue, always a blue.”
Instead of extending his deal at the Etihad, Gundogan has decided to sign for Barca and try a new challenge in a different environment.
The 67-cap international was Guardiola’s first signing at the club and led by example as the Spaniard transformed City into a dominant force in England.
He has been a moment for the big occasion — scoring a brace on the final day of the 2021-22 season to help complete the comeback against Aston Villa and snatch the title away from Liverpool.
Another brace at Wembley last season saw City fend off rivals Manchester United to lift the FA Cup, with Gundogan scoring after 12 seconds, the fastest final goal in the competition’s history.
Director of football Txiki Begiristain also paid tribute to the City legend, saying: “Ilkay has been a wonderful servant for Manchester City, and he leaves our club on a very special high having captained us to a historic Treble,
“He has played a huge part in the successes we have enjoyed in recent seasons and Ilkay’s intelligence, leadership and commitment to the club — both on and off the field — has been an inspiration to everyone.
“Ilkay has truly cemented his place in the history of Manchester City and we all wish him well in the next chapter of his career.”
Manchester City is considering a move for RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol as a potential replacement for Aymeric Laporte, should the latter decide to leave the club during the current transfer window according to sources at ESPN,
Gvardiol features on a list of players being considered to fill Laporte’s position.
However, one obstacle in the potential transfer is RB Leipzig’s valuation of the talented Croatian center-back.
The Bundesliga club has already experienced departures this summer, with Christopher Nkunku joining Chelsea and Konrad Laimer moving to Bayern Munich.
As a result, RB Leipzig would prefer to retain Gvardiol for at least another year.
Sources have told ESPN that RB Leipzig could ask for a transfer fee as high as €100 million ($108.9m) because Gvardiol, 21, only signed a new deal in September 2022 and is under contract until 2027.
Laporte is assessing his options ahead of a possible move away from City. The 29-year-old slipped behind Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake in the pecking order last season and was restricted to just 12 appearances in the Premier League as a result.
Laporte has a contract at the Etihad until 2025 and City will ask for a sizable fee before allowing him to leave.
Silva, according to sources, has been told he can leave this summer if City’s valuation is met and aside from Al Hilal, there is also interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
Silva, according to sources, would prefer to stay in Europe if he leaves the Etihad but has not yet ruled out Al Hilal’s offer. Silva’s City teammate, Riyad Mahrez, has also been sounded out about a possible move to Saudi Arabia.
The 32-year-old midfielder was presented with a new contract offer by City, but it seems that he has negotiated a more lucrative three-year deal with the reigning Spanish champions.
Gundogan played a crucial role in Manchester City’s successful pursuit of the Treble this season, and manager Pep Guardiola was keen on retaining his services.
The Germany midfielder played 51 games in 2022-23, scoring 11 goals.
Gundogan’s influence was crucial in the closing weeks of City’s season with six goals in his final seven games – including a double in the 2-1 FA Cup final win over Manchester United.
He played 90 minutes in the Champions League final as City beat Inter Milan 1-0 to add to their Premier League and FA Cup triumphs this season.
Guardiola said earlier this month City director Txiki Begiristain was “working” to keep Gundogan and he “hoped he can be successful”.
Gundogan’s departure follows City agreeing a £30m deal with Chelsea to sign Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
Gundogan joined City from Borussia Dortmund for a reported £20m in 2016 and made 304 appearances for the club, scoring 60 goals.
During his seven years at Etihad Stadium he has won 14 trophies – five Premier League titles, one Champions League, two FA Cups, four Carabao Cups and two Community Shields.
He was made club captain at the start of 2022-23 following the departure of Brazil midfielder Fernandinho.
After initially joining Chelsea on loan from Real Madrid in 2018, Mateo Kovacic later secured a permanent move to the club for a fee of £40 million.
The Croatian midfielder has enjoyed a successful tenure at Stamford Bridge, winning four significant trophies, including the coveted Champions League title in 2021.
Kovacic’s contract with Chelsea is set to expire in one year’s time, and he has amassed an impressive 221 appearances for the club thus far.
It’s true that Kovacic’s impact in the final third has been modest at best, while his reluctance to shoot from dangerous positions has always been a curiosity given his excellent technical ability.
But it’s also true that Kovacic was never signed to be an attacking, goal-scoring midfielder, as a total of 18 goals in eight years for his three previous clubs should have shown.
Instead, the Croatia international’s strengths lie at the heart of midfield. Since he arrived in the Premier League in the summer of 2018, Kovacic ranks fifth for both completed take-ons and passes per 90 among midfielders.
He excels at receiving the ball under pressure, moving upfield by beating the opponents’ press and linking the defence to the attack – skills that are often overlooked due to his limited attacking output.
But it’s those skills that have likely endeared him to Manchester City, who follow Real Madrid and Inter Milan in adding their name to the glittering CV of Kovacic, who has already won 18 trophies – including four Champions Leagues– during his career.
It’s easy to see Kovacic slotting seamlessly into Pep Guardiola’s side, either as competition for Rodri as the pivot – which would spell bad news for Kalvin Phillips – or as a potential replacement for impending free agent Ilkay Gundogan as one of the No 8s.
Cashing in on Kovacic before his contract runs down is sensible for Chelsea but, if Guardiola wants a player, it’s usually a sign that they’re a player worth having.
Pep Guardiola has shared his thoughts on the potential signing of French forward Kylian Mbappe by Manchester City.
Mbappe’s future has become uncertain after he recently sent a letter to his current club, Paris Saint Germain, expressing his hesitation to commit to them and indicating his desire to wait before deciding on his next destination.
The 24-year-old’s contract with PSG is set to expire in 2024.
This has left the French giants in a conundrum on whether to cash in on Mbappe or to allow him to play for the club next season and risk losing him for free.
The uncertainty around the star’s future has put several clubs on high alert, including Real Madrid, who tried to sign the Frenchman unsuccessfully previously.
Another club with the financial muscle to sign a player like Mbappe is Manchester City, who recently established themselves as arguably the best club in the world at the moment thanks to a treble triumph last season.
Pep Guardiola was recently asked about the Citizens’ stance on the PSG superstar and if the club would potentially make a move, and his answer was quite interesting.
“We will not sign Kylian Mbappé, he’s not joining Man City,” Guardiola told @elchiringuitotv in an interview. “All of you know where he wants to go…”
Mbappe’s stance on next club
As far as Mbappe’s reported stance is concerned, he has stated he would rather stick it out at Paris Saint-Germain and honour his current contract to the end.
Meanwhile, The Sun reports Real Madrid are already exploring other options after the departure of Karim Benzema, and are now likely to move for Newcastle flop, Joselu.
Further reports claim the loan transfer is already done and the announcement of the Spaniard as a member of Los Blancos is said to be subject to an official announcement.
Messi celebrates World Cup anniversary
Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported on how Lionel Messi marked a World Cup anniversary with an inspiring message, six months after Argentina won the trophy.
After edging out France in a penalty shootout, La Albiceleste won the title for the third time in the nation’s history – and the first one of Messi’s glittering career.
The Argentine veteran bagged seven goals and provided three assists in eight games and received the prestigious Golden Ball for his performances in Qatar.
More than 100 violations of the financial fair play rules of the competition dating back to 2009 were brought against City in February.
If found guilty, the team might lose points or perhaps be kicked out of the league, although City has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and promised to fight their case.
There are speculations that this procedure could go on for several more years, although it is uncertain how long it will take.
Khaldoon Al Mubarak pinpoints the main emotion he felt in the immediate aftermath of City’s momentous #UCL win.
Watch part one of the Chairman's annual end-of-season interview ⤵️
Speaking in his annual end-of-season interview with the club’s media channels, Khaldoon said: “So obviously I can’t talk about them (the charges), unfortunately, for legal reasons.
“What I would typically always do is comment after, so I think we’re going to go through the legal process.
“These are proceedings that take whatever time they take and when we’re done, we’ll have a conversation. I’ll give you my very blunt views, I promise you that.
“I have very strong views on that, but I am going to be unfortunately very restrained today.”
City went on to win the treble last season.They overhauled Arsenal to claim a fifth Premier League title in six years, followed up by winning the FA Cup and then beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
Off the field the club have also grown, recording record revenue last year.
To many critics of the club, which is supported by the vast wealth of owner Sheikh Mansour, the Premier League charges cast a shadow over their success.
Khaldoon feels these people are judging the club too quickly without checking all the facts.
He said: “It’s very frustrating because it takes so much from the great work that’s happening at this club and it’s happening not just on the football pitch.
“What these players have achieved this year, the treble, is incredible. I hope people focus and judge them for their football and what they’re achieving on the pitch and what they’re achieving in every competition they’re in.
“The club as a whole is very well run. Today, the value of this group is over six billion dollars. We’ve created so much value – we’ve brought in world-class investors. Why? Because we have a commercial machine here that is one of the best in the world.
“We’re the number one football brand in the world. The club generates a tremendous revenue.
“People will throw at us ‘the biggest spenders’, ‘you have the biggest squad’. I wish people can just pause and ask the question, and get the facts and then comment.”
In terms of on-field achievements, winning theChampions League for the first time this year fulfilled a long-held ambition.
Khaldoon said: “With the Champions League, we’ve tried so hard for so many years. Then to finally, finally do it – it’s relief, it’s happiness, but it’s really more relief. We finally have that trophy right here.”
Khaldoon added that City’s consistency in the Premier League was the record of which he is “most proud” and the club are targeting more trophies.
“You always can top it,” he said. “I can see how it does get better. It always can get better.”
Khaldoon also paid tribute to captain Ilkay Gundogan and hopes the German stays at the club.
Gundogan played a key role in the run-in but is out of contract this summer.
Khaldoon said: “When you need him in the big games, he’s always there, and I hope there’s more chapters to that legacy. Obviously, Ilkay has to make big life decisions for him.
This decision coincides with the upcoming retrial for Mendy regarding rape charges.
The 28-year-old player joined Manchester City from Monaco in 2017, setting a record-breaking transfer fee of £52 million.
However, he has been absent from the team’s lineup for almost two years.
The footballer was first arrested in November 2020 and was later suspended by the club in August 2021 following charges of rape and sexual assault against several women.
During a five-month trial at Chester Crown Court earlier this year, Mendy maintained that all sexual encounters he had were consensual, denying the allegations made against him.
In February, he was unanimously cleared of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. However, the jury was unable to reach verdicts on one count of rape and one count of attempted rape, leading to a retrial.
Mendy’s co-defendant, Louis Saha Matturie, was found not guilty of three charges of rape, but the jury was unable to reach verdicts on six other counts against him. Those charges will be retried in September.
In response to the outcome of the first trial,Manchester City released a statement stating that, due to ongoing legal matters, the club could not provide further comment at this time.
With one year left on his contract at Etihad Stadium, the 33-year-old Walker may be on the brink of departing City this summer, particularly after being left on the bench during their Champions League final triumph over Inter Milan.
Bayern Munich is said to be aware of the circumstances and has internally deliberated the potential signing of Walker, who brings versatility as both a right-back and a centre-back to the table.
So far there has been no contact from Bayern over a transfer for Walker but he is being watched closely and is on the club’s shortlist.
Walker, who joined City from Tottenham in 2017 for £50m, has won fivePremier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League in his six years in Manchester.
Manchester City is close to finalizing a transfer dealfor Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, with the agreement expected to be worth approximately €40 million (£34.2m), according to sources.
Recent discussions between the two clubs have been positive, leading to more detailed conversations about the payment structure.
However, one key matter that still needs to be resolved is the upfront payment amount that City will provide to Chelsea.
The west London club are under pressure to raise funds through player sales by the end of this month after spending in the region of £600m during the first year of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s ownership of the club only to miss out on European qualification altogether.
Any outgoings completed before June 30 will fall under the first full tax year and therefore help mitigate losses to aid compliance with Uefa’s Financial Fair Play rules.
Although there are still some issues to be resolved, sources have told ESPN the expectation is a deal for the 29-year-old will be completed within the next fortnight.
Kovacic is thought to have broadly agreed personal terms and the transfer will likely progress further after he finishes his international obligations with Croatia.
Their final match comes in Sunday’s Nations League Final against Spain. Kovacic initially joined Chelsea on loanfrom Real Madrid in 2018 before signing a permanent deal in a £40m switch a year later.
He has made a total of 221 appearances, scoring six goals and winning the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
Enzo Maresca is on the verge of departing from Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City to assume the role of manager at Leicester City.
The Foxes have been in search of a new boss following their relegation to the Championship under Dean Smith.
While a verbal agreement has been reached with Maresca, there are still some final details and contractual matters to be resolved before his move to the King Power Stadium is finalized.
Manchester City’s assistant manager was offered the job on Thursday and he has accepted that offer.
However, there are still details to finalise and contractual issues to sort before Maresca is confirmed as the Foxes’ next boss.
Leicester have been searching for a new boss since parting ways with Dean Smith, who was appointed on a short-term contract in April but was unable to save the club from relegation to the Championship during his eight games in charge.
Following their treble-winning season, Manchester City is preparing to release captain Ilkay Gundogan (32) and Benjamin Mendy (28) as their contracts expire this month. The Premier League confirmed on Friday that both players are included on the list of individuals who are allowed to leave on free transfers.
While leading the club to triumph in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, Gundogan has remained tight-lipped about his future. The German international has been linked with potential moves to Arsenal and Barcelona.
The midfielder, who proved to be the man for the big occasion in City’s historic treble bid, won 14 trophies at the club, including five league titles following his move from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in 2016.
Mendy has not played for City since August 2021 after he was suspended following his arrest on charges of rape and sexual assault.
The Frenchman, who was signed in 2017 for a fee in the region of 52 million pounds ($66.63 million), was found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in January but he faces a retrial ontwo other charges.
