Pep Guardiola’s first days in charge of City have ensured the Blues have dominated the headlines, and that’s certainly the case again today, after the new boss’ first press conference took place on Friday.
Of course, many articles derive from comments uttered in said conference – but seeing as you’ve already read or heard those here on ManCity.com, let’s see what else other stories are flying around…
Well, Club legend Paul Dickov has been sharing his thoughts on the Spaniard’s arrival. In addition to his live discussion on Facebook with Club journalist Nicola McCarthy and Goal.com journalist Sam Lee, the former Blue has also been speaking to Sky Sports, declaring the current atmosphere at City is something special.
“The place is absolutely buzzing at the minute,” he stated. “I’ve been involved in the club on and off for the past 20 years or so and even though recently, they’ve won Premier League titles, an FA Cup and Capital One Cups, I’ve never known anything like the buzz around the place this week.
“There’s going to be a lot of expectation but it’s nothing Pep won’t take in his stride.
“When he took the Barcelona job, he won trophies straight away. It was the same at Bayern Munich - when he took that job, they’d just won the domestic treble and the Champions League so there was huge expectation there.
“He’s come in this week and the whole place is buzzing - the players and the fans and everyone around this fantastic academy. Everyone’s really looking forward to it.
“The players are there to go and do it [achieve success] and he will add new players.
“Pep Guardiola’s teams have all played with that high tempo, pressing game and I’m sure we’ll see that this season.”
Meanwhile, there’s some transfer gossip to ponder over, as usual.
The rumours regarding alleged attempts to sign Leonardo Bonucci continue to rumble on. The latest update, from Goal.com, suggests the Blues are to up their bid to €60 million.
An article reads: “Goal revealed on July 6 that Pep Guardiola’s side had bid €50m for the Italy international centre-back, only for Juve to have rejected the offer as they attempted to keep hold of one of their key players.
“That has not put off City, though, with Corriere dello Sport reporting that City have returned with another big bid for the defender, with the Premier League club willing to offer Bonucci a five-year contract worth €8m a season.”
However, the defender has responded to the hearsay in a video he sent to a Juventus fan, in which he claims he is ready for another season with the Italian club.
Elsewhere, ESPN report goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli has ‘confirmed’ City’s interest in him.
Writes Jonathan Smith: “Rulli, 24, who is preparing for the Olympics with Argentina, has spent the past two seasons on loan at La Liga side Real Sociedad from Uruguayan club Deportivo.
“But the keeper says City are trying to negotiate a deal to sign him, which is complicated as Rulli is owned by a third-party South American investment fund.
“Reports in Spain, however, claim that Rulli could be loaned back to Sociedad for a third season.”
Quoted in the article, Rulli asserts: “Manchester City have shown interest in me again. My agents are looking after this, I just try and focus on the Olympics.
“Then it will be whatever God wants. My wish now is to play in the Olympics and then we’ll see what happens.
“The truth is I still do not know what will happen. It is close to being sorted, but I cannot tell you how.”
In other news…
Middlesbrough to offer former Manchester City forward Alvaro Negredo Premier League return
