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Pep Guardiola is reportedly not keen for one player to join Manchester City’s pre-season, with a report sharing the names of two clubs interested in signing him.
City are yet to sign any players this summer, and there also have not been any sales.
But there could be some activity on both fronts very soon.
Regarding players who could be leaving, most of the talk has been about Ederson, with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr hopeful of singing the Brazilian ‘within a week’.
Should Ederson depart, then Stefan Ortega is expected to become the new number one.
Another player of interest to the Saudi Pro League is Joao Cancelo, and one report in Spain has made an interesting claim.
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Pep Guardiola doesn’t want Joao Cancelo around for Manchester City pre-season, as two interested clubs named
It has been claimed by SPORT that Pep is not overly keen to have Cancelo around for Manchester City’s pre-season.
Some players have already been back at the CFA and others will return on Monday which is when pre-season officially starts for City. Later this month, the club will then fly to the US for a four-match tour across multiple cities.
Players will be returning at different stages.
But one man Pep doesn’t want is Cancelo, whom he reportedly fell out with midway through the 2022/23 season over game time.
Cancelo, who signed for City for £60 million, has had loan spell with Bayern Munich and Barcelona, and is not in the plans of the manager.
He wants to return to Barcelona, but the Spanish giants cannot afford him which makes the situation difficult for City.
It was recently claimed that City were talking to two clubs from Saudi Arabia about Cancelo. Apparently, they hope that one of these clubs can divert Cancelo’s gaze away from Barcelona.
SPORT say the two clubs from Saudi are Al Ahli – Riyad Mahrez’s club – and Al Ettifaq.
All eyes will be on that City plane for pre-season
- READ MORE: How Xavi felt about Joao Cancelo prior to shock Barcelona exit
It is going to be very, very interesting to see whether Cancelo will be on board that plane when City jet off to the US later this month.
This may well be a case of SPORT attempting to stir the pot.
Guardiola has actually already said publicly that Cancelo would ‘have to’ come back for City’s pre-season. He said (via Daily Mail): “It has to be the best for everyone. The two clubs will sit down.
“He is our player and, if an agreement is not reached, he will have to return in the pre-season.
“If he wants to stay here [at Barcelona], and the clubs agree, it will be done again.”
Despite those comments though, Guardiola may privately hope that a deal to take Cancelo away from the club is done before the players go to the US.
Seemingly, there is still absolutely no chance of a reconciliation.
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Gareth Southgate was full of praise for one Manchester City player after England beat the Netherlands 2-1 to reach the final of Euro 2024.
After the Three Lions’ gut-wrenching defeat to Italy in the final of Euro 2020, Southgate has another chance at winning the tournament.
However, a Spanish side who have far and away been the best team at the tournament await the English in a blockbuster battle on Sunday night.
The likes of Phil Foden, John Stones and Kyle Walker — who have played in plenty of finals will be relishing the chance to make history in England shirts.
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Gareth Southgate hails Phil Foden after reaching Euro 2024 final
The Manchester City trident have won every possible trophy in club football but it is at the international level where glory has beckoned them.
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However, as experienced by the trio for City in their Champions League triumph in 2023 — once a team continues to knock on the door, they eventually win the coveted prize in knockout football.
After England defeated the Netherlands in dramatic fashion, Gareth Southgate raved about how Foden fared on Wednesday night.
Southgate told ITV Sport: “I think that’s as well as he has played in an England shirt and he had a huge, huge influence on the game.”
Jamie Carragher also described the Stockport-born midfielder’s showing as “fantastic.”
Phil Foden proves why he deserved midfield spot as England beat Netherlands
It is tough to disagree with England boss Gareth Southgate as Foden was purring in the middle of the park against the Netherlands.
Before the Three Lions beat Switzerland on penalties, City’s number 47 was deployed on the left-wing — a role that did not suit him whatsoever.
But starting in his favoured midfield position against Ronald Koeman’s side, the 24-year-old provided a sense of technical security, intelligence and calmness every time he picked up the ball.
If there is a lesson Southgate would have learned ahead of England’s upcoming clash against Spain from his team’s latest triumph, it would be to maintain the faith in Foden as one of his starting midfielders.
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