Guardiola 'wanted 10 new players' at Manchester City

The Catalan agreed with the club's board that his new squad would need a significant overhaul, but he could only attract around half of his summer targets

Pep Guardiola wanted to bring around 10 new players to Manchester City during the summer as part of a ‘complete overhaul’ of his new squad, according to biographer Marti Perarnau. 

The Catalan and the City board had agreed that a change in direction was necessary during a meeting in Dubai in June.

Perarnau says Guardiola laid out his playing model and described the players he would need to make it successful at the meeting.

The wish list is said to have been split into three categories, and identified a need for a new defensive spine, strikers and full-backs.

The revelations, laid out in ‘Pep Guardiola, the Evolution’, suggest Guardiola was unable to attract all of his top targets and is having to make do with several players he had earmarked for the exit door.

Guardiola is said to have been concerned by the fact that 12 of the 23 players he was inheriting were aged 30 or over, and only four were 25 or under.

It is particularly interesting that City and Guardiola elected to stick with the club’s four existing full-backs, all of whom are over 30, despite making it a priority area for improvement.

Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy are all out of contract next summer and are not expecting to be offered extensions, while Aleksandar Kolarov’s deal is up in 18 months’ times.

Despite shaking up the squad by shipping out Joe Hart, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony and Eliaquim Mangala, as well as banishing Yaya Toure, City signed just five players who have contributed to the first team.

The Blues also signed a new striker, but will have to wait until January before Brazil youngster Gabriel Jesus arrives from Palmeiras.

City had enquired about Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang earlier in the summer, but were put off by the German club’s asking price.

Guardiola is said to have earmarked Sergio Aguero as one of four specific City players of genuine quality before he arrived at the club, according to Perarnau, alongside Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho and David Silva.

It has become clear, however, that the City boss demands significant improvements in a number of areas from Aguero, who appears determined to rise to the challenge. 

Goal has previously stated that Guardiola also wanted two new centre-backs this summer but was left disappointed by Aymeric Laporte’s decision to stay at Athletic.

John Stones arrived from Everton and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was brought in to replace Hart, but Guardiola’s desire to refresh the side’s defensive spine will have to wait until next summer.

More games: friv

Les Bleus take on Bulgaria at home on Friday evening before jetting off to take on the Netherlands three days later.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba joined his France teammates for training on Monday as they prepare for World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and the Netherlands.

Les Bleus take on Bulgaria at home on Friday evening before jetting off to take on the Netherlands three days later.

France sit fifth in Group A having drawn their only qualifier so far against Belarus.

Bulgaria, meanwhile, sit top of the group after a pulsating 4-3 win over minnows Luxembourg, while the Netherlands also drew their opening qualifier, 1-1 against Sweden.

Laurent Koscielny and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris arrive

Bacary Sagna arrives

Kingsley Coman and Eliaquim Mangala arrive

Pogba was joined by a clutch of fellow Premier League stars as the French players looked in relaxed mood ahead of getting their preparations for the fixtures underway.

North London trio Laurent Koscielny, Hugo Lloris and Moussa Sissoko arrived for international duty, as did Manchester City's Bacary Sagna.

Layvin Kurzawa arrives

Raphael Varane arrives

Aymeric Laporte arrives

Sagna's City teammate Eliaquim Mangala, who is currently on loan at Valencia, was also in attendance along with Atletico Madrid hotshot Antoine Griezmann.

France bounced back from disappointment in the Euro 2016 final on home soil against Portugal with a 3-1 victory in Italy before their opening qualifying draw against Belarus.

Manchester City open to offers for Eliaquim Mangala and Wilfried Bony - Sky sources

Manchester City will listen to offers for Eliaquim Mangala and Wilfried Bony as well as Samir Nasri, according to Sky sources.

All three have been left out of Manchester City's squad for the forthcoming Champions League qualifiers.

Sky sources understand that while City - who signed John Stones from Everton for £47.5m on Tuesday - are not planning a fire sale of players, they will listen for offers for the trio.

Sky Sports News HQ revealed on Monday that Nasri was for sale, with City demanding a minimum of £17m for the France midfielder.

Mangala (left) has been unable to establish himself as a first-team regular

Italian clubs AC Milan, Inter Milan and Roma are interested in signing him, but City will also now allow striker Bony and centre-back Mangala leave - if the price is right.  

Guardiola has revealed midfielder Nasri had returned to pre-season training overweight and has ordered him to shed the pounds having left him out of a July friendly with Borussia Dortmund.

Bony has fallen down the striking pecking order at City

City signed Frenchman Mangala from Porto in a £32m deal in August 2014, but he has struggled to become a first-team regular at the Etihad.

Bony arrived from Swansea for £25m in January last year, but has been behind Sergio Aguero and Kelechi Iheanacho in the pecking order.

What the Brexit could mean for your English Premier League team.

EU membership allows European players to easily sign for Premier League teams.

But a Brexit could limit freedom of movement meaning some players would not automatically qualify for work permits.

They could instead be subjected to the same FA regulation as players around the world - a points-based system, partly decided by the proportion of recent international matches a player has been selected for.

Leicester City's Ngolo Kante, a French national, would not have automatically qualified to play for the club under a Brexit. Photo: Laurence Griffiths

Find out which players in your club could be affected under these rules.

Arsenal

Eight players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Arsenal would have missed out on five goals and eight assists (all stats pertain to Premier League only).

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Francis Coquelin, Mathieu Flamini, Mikel Arteta, Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal, Tomas Rosicky, Laurent Koscielny and Serge Gnabry 

Bournemouth

Three players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Bournemouth would have missed out on five goals and two assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Artur Boruc, Sylvain Distin and Joshua King

Burnley

Two players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Burnley would have missed out on two goals and four assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Stephen Ward and Rouwen Hennings​

Chelsea

Three players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Chelsea would have missed out on two goals and one assist.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Loic Remy, Kurt Zouma and Marco Amelia

Crystal Palace

One player in the current squad would not automatically qualify for a permit.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Brede Hangeland

Everton

Two players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Everton would have missed out on two goals and eight assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Gerard Deulofeu and Joel Robles

Gerard Deulofeu, a Spanish national, would not automatically qualify to play for Everton under Brexit. Photo: Getty Images

Hull City

Three players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Hull City would have missed out on two goals and one assist.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Dusan Kuciak, Brian Lenihan and David Meyler

Leicester City

Three players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Leicester City would have missed out on four goals and four assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: N'Golo Kante, Marcin Wasilewski and Robert Huth​

Liverpool

Nine players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Liverpool would have missed out on three goals and six assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Emre Can, Alberto Moreno, Jose Enrique, Adam Bogdan,Simon Mignolet, Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho, Tiago Ilori and Joao Carlos Teixeira 

Manchester City

Four players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Manchester City would have missed out on eleven assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified:​ Jesús Navas, Bacary Sagna, Eliaquim Mangala and Gaël Clichy

Luke Shaw attempts to challenge City's Jesus Navas. Photo: Getty Images

Manchester United

Six players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Manchester United would have missed out on 16 goals and seven assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Anthony Martial, Ander Herrera, Adnan Januzaj, David de Gea, Morgan Schneiderlin and Timothy Fosu-Mensah 

Middlesbrough

Eight players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Middlesbrough would have missed out on three goals and one assist.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Dimi Konstantopoulos, Tomas Mejias, Michael Agazzi, Damia Abella, Daniel Sanchez Ayala, Tomas Kalas, and Enrique Sola

Southampton

Seven players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Southampton would have missed out on six goals and one assist.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Juanmi, Oriol Romeu, Jose Fonte, Virgil van Dijk, Maarten Stekelenburg, Florin Gardos and Jordy Clasie

Stoke City

Nine players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Stoke City would have missed out on 15 goals and five assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Bojan, Joselu, Erik Pieters, Marc Muniesa, Philipp Wollscheid, Jakob Haugaard, Ibrahim Afellay, Giannelli Imbula and Dionatan Teixeira 

Sunderland

Eight players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Sunderland would have missed out on 18 goals and 15 assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Fabio Borini, Ola Toivonen, Yann M'Vila, Patrick van Aanholt, Younes Kaboul, Vito Mannone, Jan Kirchhoff and Jeremain Lens

Swansea City

Six players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Swansea City would have missed out on eight goals and two assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Bafétimbi Gomis, Angel Rangel, Jordi Amat, Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Leroy Fer and Alberto Paloschi

Tottenham Hotspur

Two players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Kevin Wimmer and Michel Vorm

​

Michel Vorm of Tottenham Hotspur.

Watford

Nine players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, Watford would have missed out on one goal and three assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Mario Suarez, Jose Manuel Jurado, Obbi Oulare, Jose Holebas, Etienne Capoue, Nathan Aké, Steven Berghuis,Joel Ekstrand and Costel Pantilimon

West Bromwich Albion

Two players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, West Brom would have missed out on one goal and two assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Jonas Olsson and Sébastien Pocognoli

West Ham United

Four players in the current squad would not automatically qualify for permits.

If this had happened last season and they had been deprived of these players, West Ham would have missed out on nine goals and 13 assists.

Players who would not have automatically qualified: Dimitri Payet, Pedro Obiang, Angelo Ogbonna and Adrian.

Man City's Eliaquim Mangala eyes Real Madrid 'revenge' in Champions League

Eliaquim Mangala said he is proud of Manchester City's progress in the Champions League this season and has vowed that they can get their own back by reaching next year's final.

City fell at the semifinal stage against Real Madrid as Gareth Bale's cross deflected off Fernando in Wednesday's second leg at the Bernabeu to see Real reach their 14th European Cup final.

The sides had drawn 0-0 in Manchester a week previously but City's hopes of upsetting the odds in Madrid faded when their captain Vincent Kompany was again forced off through injury after only 10 minutes.

Mangala, 25, was the man called upon to replace Kompany but he could do little to prevent Real getting the only goal of the tie 10 minutes later.

"We can be proud of ourselves for reaching the semifinals," he told beIN Sports after the game. "It's a good run all the same.

"We were beaten by a good team who have experience of semifinals.

"When you get to the semifinals you always want more so we'll certainly try to get our revenge next year."

City are fourth in the Premier League table -- four points above local rivals Manchester United -- which would secure them a place in the qualification playoff for next season's Champions League.

With two matches of the season left to play, City are still in with a chance over taking third-placed Arsenal for an automatic place, and they host the Gunners on Sunday as they bid to make up that three-point gap.

Eliaquim Mangala (left) replaced Vincent Kompany early on at the Bernabeu.

At the Bernabeu, neither side were at their best but City in particular found it difficult to create any real openings as they sought a precious away goal and managed just one shot on target in the second leg.

Mangala admitted that losing Kompany so early had an effect on the team.

"I came on in a match that was very committed and important," the former Standard Liege and Porto player said.

"Then we conceded a bit of a lucky goal where the ball was deflected and went in. After that they were able to manage the match. We tried to create some chances but it was difficult. 

"Unfortunately we didn't score the goal that would have brought us to Milan."

Everton transfer target Yarmolenko urged to make Premier League move

Ukraine coach Mykhaylo Fomenko says Dynamo Kiev star could shine in England.

Everton transfer target Andriy Yarmolenko has been urged to move to the Premier League.

Ukraine coach Mykhaylo Fomenko believes the Dynamo Kiev star, who has been tracked extensively by the Blues during the past 12 months, is capable of shining in English football, and says he “must” take the opportunity to do so if possible.

Yarmolenko scored the winner for his country in their friendly win over Wales on Monday night, his 23rd goal in 57 internationals.

Fomenko said: “If he is wanted by the top English clubs then, yes, he can show his best in the Premier League and he must do this.

“He is the leader of our team and leader of our squad.”

Yarmolenko has made no secret of his desire to play in England, stating earlier this year that it would be better for him to play at a club like Everton rather than Barcelona.

“For me it is important to play matches,” he said. “If I do not play twice a week, I have nowhere to throw out the emotions and energy. My family will go mad.”

Manchester City's Eliaquim Mangala (left) and Dynamo Kiev's Andriy Yarmolenko battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Everton tried to sign the 26-year-old last summer, but were unable to get a deal done. They held fresh talks with the player’s representatives in December, but were again left frustrated in their dealings with Dynamo Kiev.

In February, it was reported that Yarmolenko had turned down a big-money move to the Chinese Super League, with his agent Vadim Shabliy reaffirming his ambition to play in the Premier League.

Sunderland set to sack former Ivory Coast's Eboue after FIFA ban

Sunderland said Thursday they intend to terminate the contract of Emmanuel Eboue before he had even kicked a ball in anger for the club after FIFA ordered the defender to serve a one-year ban over fees owed to a former agent.

However, the Ivory Coast international can automatically end the ban if he pays the money to his ex-agent Sebastien Boisseau, the world governing body said.

FIFA, announcing the suspension earlier on Thursday, said the ban covers "any football-related activity that will last for one year or until he pays the total outstanding amount owed to his former agent".

In response, Premier League strugglers Sunderland said they had given the 32-year-old former Arsenal player, who joined the north-east side in a short-term deal earlier this month, two weeks' notice.

Eboue has the right of appeal but it now looks as if his Sunderland career could end without him making a single first-team appearance.

"Sunderland AFC has been advised by the Football Association that Emmanuel Eboue has been placed under an immediate suspension from football and all football-related activity for a period of one year, by FIFA," said a club statement.

"The suspension relates to a monetary dispute between the player and a former agent, which precedes his time at Sunderland AFC and was not something that the club was made aware of by the player.

"Eboue signed a contract with Sunderland AFC until the end of the current season and the club has therefore given notice of its intention to terminate the contract. The player has two weeks in which to appeal this decision."

Eboue's ban will be a further setback to Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce's hopes of keeping the club in the lucrative Premier League, with the Black Cats now without Adam Johnson after the club sacked the former England midfielder following his admission of sexual activity with an under-age girl that has since seen the player jailed.

Sunderland, two points shy of safety, continue their quest for Premier League survival against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

A FIFA players' status committee ruled in July 2013 in favour of agent Sebastien Boisseau in a contractual dispute with Eboue. In September 2014, the FIFA disciplinary committee fined the Ivory Coast star 30,000 Swiss francs ($30,000) for failing to comply with the decision.

He was then given a 120-day "grace period" to settle the debt before Boisseau would be entitled to request that a one-year ban be imposed.

Eboue appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but lost. After a new deadline for payment was set and passed, Boisseau "requested that the one-year ban be imposed on Mr Eboue in accordance with the decision of the FIFA disciplinary committee", said a FIFA statement.

Manchester City vs. West Ham 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online

Title hopefuls Manchester City face a tough trip to West Ham on Saturday.

By now, Manchester City would've been hoping to be several points clear at the top of the Premier League table. After all, they boast what is probably the strongest squad in the entire division. In reality, Manuel Pellegrini's side find themselves down in third place, a point in arrears of both Arsenal and Leicester City, having also been dogged by a peculiar inconsistency. If they're to stand any chance of leapfrogging their title rivals to the Premier League's summit this weekend, they're going to have to pick up a point or three away at West Ham United.

That's a task easier said than done, with the Hammers enjoying a wonderful campaign under Premier League managerial debutant Slaven Bilić. The Croatian's fine leadership has given West Ham a very real chance of qualifying for the Europa League, with attractive, intelligent football. They've only been beaten twice in front of their home fans so far this season, and City should be heading to London's East End for Saturday's late kickoff expecting a very difficult match.

Key player: Sergio Agüero (Manchester City)

Had Argentine striker Sergio Agüero not suffered with his usual injury problems for much of the season so far, Manchester City may by now have been cruising to the title. As it is, Agüero has made two fewer appearances than City's backup striker Wilfried Bony, and has tellingly scored over twice as many goals. He's a cut above any other forward plying their trade in England, and if he manages to stay fit for the remainder of the campaign, it'll boost the Blues' title hopes enormously.

Recent history

Manchester City went through a five-year phase from September 2009 to October 2014 in which they played West Ham 10 times in all competitions, winning eight, drawing two, and losing none. However, in line with the Hammers' resurgence over the last couple of seasons, City have actually lost two of the last three of these sides' meetings. That means depending on how 'recent' you're looking, the recent history between these teams can give either club the edge.

West Ham United injuries and suspensions

Out: Andy Carroll (knock); Diafra Sakho (hamstring); Manuel Lanzini (thigh). In doubt: None.

Manchester City injuries and suspensions

Out: Samir Nasri (hamstring); Vincent Kompany (calf). In doubt: Eliaquim Mangala(hamstring); Aleksandar Kolarov (calf); Fernandinho (knock).

The Hammers have three attacking absentees, though the injuries to strikers Carroll and Sakho are rather less frustrating than the one sustained by playmaker Lanzini, who was one of the Hammers' top performers through the first half of the season.

Meanwhile, City will still be without captain Kompany, while attacking midfielder Nasri continues to recover from hamstring surgery he had in November. Defenders Mangala and Kolarov are both doubts, though Fernandinho is expected to be included in the matchday squad after recovering from a knock.

Match date/time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. local

Venue: Upton Park, London, England

TV: NBC (US - English); NBC Universo (US - Spanish); Sportsnet One (Canada); Sky Sports 1/HD (UK)

Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (US - English); NBC Deportes En Vivo Extra (US - Spanish); Sportsnet World Now (Canada); Sky Go (UK)

Shock exit mooted for City ace

Martin Demichelis could be on his way out of Manchester City in January to join Argentine side Rosario Central, according to reports.

The 34-year-old central defender was snapped up by City boss Manuel Pellegrini on a two-year deal from Atletico Madrid in summer 2013, with the move coming only two months after he had moved to the Vicente Calderon from their Spanish La Liga rivals Malaga.

Demichelis endured an uncertain start to life in England, but managed to establish himself as a key man in the squad with 31 Premier League appearances last term.

But the arrival of fellow Argentinian Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia in the summer has now left Demichelis down in fourth spot in the pecking order, as skipper Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala are also ahead of him.

He has made just one start in the Premier League so far this term, while his other starts have come in the Capital One Cup and the Champions League.

And with just six months remaining on his deal, it is being reported that City could offload Demichelis in January, with Rosario coach Eduardo Coudet keen to take him back to his homeland.

Coudet played alongside Demichelis at River Plate and is a big fan of the defender, while he is also looking for a quality replacement to cover the void set to be created by Alejandro Donatti's expected departure in the new year.

Man City's Martin Demichelis may join Rosario Central in January - sources

Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis could be set for a return to Argentina with Rosario Central in January, sources have told ESPN FC.

Demichelis, 34, has fallen down the City pecking order following the arrival at the Etihad Stadium of fellow Argentine Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia in the summer.

Demichelis is currently fourth-choice centre-back in Manuel Pellegrini's plans, with Vincent Kompany, Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala all ahead of him in the battle for a spot in the City starting XI.

He has made just one start in the Premier League this season, with his three other starts coming in the Capital One Cup and the Champions League.

The experienced defender is entering the final six months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and could decide to return to his homeland after 12 years in Europe with Bayern Munich, Malaga and City, who signed him just two months after he had joined Atletico Madrid on a free transfer.

Rosario are in the market for a new defender with Alejandro Donatti expected to leave the club for a move to Europe in January.

Rosario coach Eduardo Coudet is a big admirer of Demichelis, having played alongside him while they were both together at River Plate, and hopes to persuade his former teammate to join the club in January ahead of the Copa Libertadores starting in February.

Competition for places can only be good for Manchester City, insists centre-back Eliaquim Mangala.

Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala is happy with the added competition fellow centre-back and summer signing Nicolas Otamendi has brought to the club.

Manuel Pellegrini added the Argentinean to his side's defensive options and it has meant Mangala has been dropped for certain matches – including Sunday's 0-0 draw with Aston Villa.

Captain Vincent Kompany, when fully fit, is almost guaranteed his place in the starting XI with Mangala, Otamendi and Martin Demichelis vying to partner the Belgian.

"Competition is good. I'm happy," Mangala said. "It's motivated me to improve step by step. When you are at one step, you want to keep going - to move further up.

"I want to improve every day in training and during the games. That's important for me.

"It's very good for us," he said about the situation. "I knew Martin and Vinnie from last season and I knew Nico at Porto. It's easier to play with them.

"We have some parts that are different. I think Nico and Martin are similar players - and the same with Vinnie and me - but we complement each other and that is very good for the team."

Why Vincent Kompany Will Spend Many More Seasons at Manchester City

By his own admission, Vincent Kompany’s form last season wasn’t good enough. If his performances since joining Manchester City from Hamburg back in 2008 have told us anything, it was that he is probably the best defender in the Premier League when fit and at the top of his game. In 2014/15, he wasn’t even close.

But there aren’t too many better professionals in the league, either. Kompany, irked by his collapse, barely had a summer holiday. He returned to City’s £150 million training base adjacent to the Etihad Stadium earlier than any other player and began preparing himself for a better campaign this time around.

“For me, to have a season like last season wasn’t acceptable, and I’ve done what I’ve always know when times were tough," he said in September, relayed by Anthony Jepson of the Manchester Evening News.

He continued:

I just got back to basics, worked even harder and I’ve come back stronger. Right now, what I see in this team which I haven’t seen—probably ever—is just a level of focus.

It’s probably because most of us have got so much to deal with in the past 12 months. Everyone knows we cannot afford ourselves a mental rest until we’ve finished the job.

So far, it would seem his hard work has paid off. His performances have been outstanding since August. City have kept seven clean sheets this season, and it’s certainly no coincidence Kompany has played in all of them.

Toward the end of last season, for the first time in his City career, Kompany was no longer first choice, with Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis comprising Manuel Pellegrini’s preferred pairing for the final weeks. He wanted to take Kompany out of the firing line, an opportunity for the Belgian to refocus and refresh himself. It was probably the right thing to do—another example of Pellegrini’s fine man-management skills.

But things have changed rapidly. Now, it’s the other defenders in City’s squad fighting for a place alongside the captain. Kompany has reasserted his authority and his ability. Right now it is new signing Nicolas Otamendi who finds himself in the side, and the two are developing an excellent understanding.

City have looked solid for much of the season, restricting their opponents to just 28 shots on target in their 12 league games.

You would be hard pushed to name a better pound-for-pound signing in City’s history than Kompany. He joined for £6 million in the summer of 2008—a rare piece of transfer brilliance from former manager Mark Hughes—and it quickly became apparent City had found themselves a magnificent footballer.

He played as a midfielder initially, but with City often looking weak at the back, Kompany was rightfully given a chance there. He excelled, and so began a rapid rise to prominence, soon becoming known as the best centre-back in English football.

It also didn’t take long for people to realise City had one of the best statesman in the game. Kompany doesn’t just lead on the pitch; he is also a wonderful orator and a man who has represented the club in the best possible way. No other Premier League side boasts a player who offered quite such a comprehensive package.

Injuries have certainly held him back and continue to do so. This season, he has already spent seven matches on the sidelines. His calves are susceptible to injury, something Pellegrini feels may well be down to his overzealous approach to training and games.

“Vincent plays with 100 per cent intensity, not just every game but every training session,” Pellegrini said prior to City’s recent match with West Ham United. “That’s the way he always works.

“It’s difficult [for him to ease off]. It is not easy for him. He tries sometimes not to be always 100 per cent intensity, but you cannot change.

“It is always important [not] to have injured players, especially the captain and especially in a moment when we didn’t concede any goals in the first five games. I think it is important to carry on playing with the same names, but I always say we have a squad.”

The 29-year-old still has plenty left to offer. Medical and dietary advancements mean players are going on longer than ever before declining. Centre-backs, in particular, seem to benefit from experience and flourish later.

And City, a club looking to nurture their own talent right across the board, will surely want him to continue his association with them after his playing career, either in a coaching capacity or a more ambassadorial role.

Everything is in place. City are no longer just a club based in east Manchester. The City Football Group (CFG) is a growing enterprise, with clubs across the world now bearing the City name and coloured sky blue.

Patrick Vieira is the most obvious case in point. The former Arsenal man, another hugely respected figure in the game, was given an ambassadorial role after his retirement from playing before being parachuted into the role of manager of City's elite development squad.

Now, with his career in need of further development Manchester City can’t offer him at this time, he has gone off to New York City, where he will be first-team manager. CFG has everything in place to help their former players progress in non-playing capacities.

Whether MLS proves to be the best place for Vieira to spread his wings remains to be seen, but City simply can’t lose. They retain his registration and get to continue monitoring his progress. Kompany, you feel, has surely been earmarked for similar treatment when he calls time on his playing career. 

Kompany remains a superb athlete. He has pace, strength and plenty of technical ability. He can dribble and play from the back, and he can defend in a proactive, aggressive style. At his best, he’s probably the finest centre-half in the English top flight.

But what City also have in Kompany is perhaps an even more valuable commodity: an intelligent, articulate leader who clearly loves the game. The end of his playing days almost certainly will not be the end of his association with the club.