- Marcos Lopes signs a five year deal with AS Monaco believed to be worth up to £9m
- Manuel Pellegrini said that Lopes would go on loan shortly before the deal was announced by Monaco
- Pellegrini adds that City will not be signing any strikers
- City will be missing injured full backs Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy, plus Fernando and Wilfried Bony from the Watford squad match day squad on Saturday
- Nicolas Otamendi won’t feature because of work permit issues
- Full back Pablo Maffeo, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, and Patrick Roberts will feature in the match day squad for the Watford game
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has declared there can be no excuses for not winning titles after this summer’s transfer business is concluded.
Speaking before the flurry of activity this afternoon, the Chilean was pleased that City were building a squad capable of bringing silverware back to the Etihad next summer.
He said: “This team must try to win titles every year. It’s not so easy because there are strong teams in the Premier League and the Champions League but we must at least try to build a good squad.
“We must try and have the strongest squad that we can, a squad that can win important games.
“If you only have eleven good players you’ll win nothing.
“Next Tuesday the transfer window closes and after that we must play in the same way as we have been doing.”
Player movements have been high on the agenda for Manchester City during the close season but one move seems to have surprised even the manager.
Monaco announced that 19-year old Marcos Lopes, a promising attacking midfielder in the mould of David Silva, had been signed for a fee believed to be worth up to £9m. Lopes himself confirmed the deal on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/as_monaco/status/637240820903579648
Thank you @AS_Monaco for the wonderful welcome and for believing in me! I'm honoured and eager to work hard!! pic.twitter.com/Fyzq7Q40kS
— Rony Lopes (@Rony10Lopes) August 28, 2015
Pellegrini had an hour earlier had hinted that the young Portugal U21 player, who was the youngest ever goal scorer for the club at 17 years and eight days (against tomorrow’s opponents Watford), would only be loaned out for one season but there was enough wriggle room in the Chilean’s words to suggest that he was avoiding further questioning on what was about to be announced, given the inevitable quizzing over the Kevin De Bruyne saga.
“He still plays for us we will see his future in the next few hours.
“Marcos needs to play more maybe in another club. He’s a very good player and I am sure he will be a part of our squad in the future.
“For this year he must continue to play the most amount of games he can but here he has competition for [David] Silva and [Samir] Nasri for that position so I think it’s better for him that he goes on loan.”
When pressed on the loan issue, he simply answered: “Yes, I think for this season.”
It’s fair to say that the imminent signing of Kevin De Bruyne might well have forced the City youngster further down the pecking order of attacking midfielders at the disposal of Pellegrini with David Silva and Samir Nasri also in the squad.
With just one year left to go on his existing contract, City have cashed in one of their most exciting young prospects and perhaps Pellegrini deflected further questions on the eve of the Watford game.
Lopes himself tweeted his farewells to his former team mates and EDS manager Patrick Vieira.
Want to thank everyone that worked with me in @MCFC since day 1 and a special word for Patrick Vieira: a great manager and coach & TOP MAN!
— Rony Lopes (@Rony10Lopes) August 28, 2015
City have a few injury worries ahead of tomorrow’s Watford game and Pellegrini was careful to ensure that the team was focussed on the visit of Quique Sanchez Flores’ side despite the distractions of the Champions League draw but he wasn’t too concerned over a perceived shortage of experience up front.
Wilfried Bony was ruled out of tomorrow’s game with a 6-7cm gash in his leg sustained in training. The injury leaves Sergio Aguero as City’s sole fit senior striker while City will also be missing new signing Nicolas Otamendi due to a delay in obtaining his work permit which should be resolved by Monday.
Pellegrini confirmed that Fernando would return after the international break, while there was good news for three youngsters who were promoted to the match day squad for the game against Watford.
“We have three young players in our squad. We have injuries to Clichy [ankle, 6-7 weeks], Zabaleta [knee ligaments, 4 weeks], and Bony [7-10 days], plus Fernando. We will name Pablo Maffeo, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Patrick Roberts [in the matchday squad].”
Despite the paucity of forward options at the moment, especially ones with height, Pellegrini claimed he was not going to dip into the transfer market.
He said: “We are not looking for another striker. We have Kun [Aguero], Bony, [Raheem] Sterling, Kelechi, and Patrick Roberts. We will have one position for another player, either Kelechi or Patrick.
“Sterling is a player of 20 years old who has scored 11 or 12 goals and gave 20 assists last season. He’s a very good player who makes a difference in every game.
“Kelechi is a very good striker. He’s a young player who needs an opportunity to demonstrate how he can play and I have a lot of trust in his performance.”
Pellegrini vowed to continue his attacking philosophy no matter how many strikers were on the pitch.
He said: “The fans deserve to continue to see attacking attractive football. We’ve started scoring goals this season and it’s important to continue.
“Sometimes we are not going to score but very few times but that’s why we must learn to defend.”
- Devante Cole, 20, signed for Bradford City having never made a first team appearance for City.