There’s also an insight into Pep Guardiola’s drive to get the very best out of his squad from Riyad Mahrez as well as a fascinating feature with the boss himself in which he reveals the mindset behind his own remarkable impact on the game.
Transfer gossip
90min.com – ‘City join race for Rennes wonderkid’
Tom Gott: “Manchester City are ready to challenge any rival for the signature of 17-year-old Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.
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“Camavinga has been a permanent fixture in the Rennes midfield this season, having started all 12 of their league games so far. He rose to prominence with a dominant performance in a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the season, and he has gone from strength to strength since.
“As a result of his sensational form, plenty of European giants have expressed an interest in signing Camavinga, but 90min has learned that City are ready to make a major push for his signature.
“There has been interest in Camavinga from across the continent, with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich all keen on recruiting the Rennes wonderkid.
“Even in England, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have been following the teenager closely, but City are prepared to do battle with them all to try and come out on top.”
Daily Star – Guardiola eyes Demeble move
Mathew Cooper: “Ousmane Dembele is said to be close to leaving Barcelona after struggling for regular first team football under manager Ernesto Valverde.
“The addition of Antoine Griezmann this summer in a deal worth more than £100m and the emergence of teenage prodigy Ansu Fati have left Dembele starved of opportunities.
“The 22-year-old has made just two La Liga starts so far this season and has continued his struggles with injury.
“In the opening game of the season, he was struck down with a hamstring problem but, since returning, he has not featured in any of Barcelona’s last three league matches.
“Dembele has long been linked with moves away from the Nou Camp, despite being the club’s third most expensive ever signing.
“Now, Manchester City are the latest club who are said to be interested in the winger, according to reports from Spain.”
calciomercatio.com – City, Roma, Milan keen on Spanish ace Dani Olmo
“Spanish forward Dani Olmo is ready to leave Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb in order to join a top European club, with multiple clubs around Europe interested. However, Zagreb want at least €40 million for the 21-year-old, according to a report from Calciomercato.com.
“The report details how Olmo’s strong performances with the Croatian champions have caught the attention of multiple sides across Western Europe, and he doesn’t want to waste the opportunity to move away from the Eastern European squad, especially considering his recent call up to the Spanish national team.
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“The clubs interested in him, the report continues, are Milan, Roma and Manchester City. The Rossoneri have been following Olmo for a little while and have already started coming up with a plan to secure his signature, with the Giallorossi considering the Spaniard as an option next summer.
However, both Italian sides may struggle to fend off the interest from Premier League reigning champions Manchester City, who could make an offer next summer.”
News
Manchester Evening News – Mahrez: We’re constantly learning from Pep
Marcus Banks: “Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez has revealed how he is constantly learning from manager Pep Guardiola during his time with the Blues and the mindset of the dressing room.
“The 29-year-old lifted the lid on his relationship with Guardiola during an interview with France Football.
“He’s really very simple,” Mahrez said.
“He is a winner, he is there to make us progress. Guardiola, he’ll explain everything to us, decrypt everything, from A to Z, with the aim of facilitating the match.
“He is focused on the game. I love meetings with the coach.
“The video with him is fascinating because we constantly learn.”
He added: “The dressing room of a big club is another reality. You have to fight non-stop. Being relaxed isn’t tolerated.
“I’m looking to do more, because if you don’t, you know someone else will play instead of you.
“To make a good match, it is not enough any more, it is necessary to make very, very good matches all the time.
“That’s Manchester City.”
Features
soccerbible.com – Guardiola Q and A special
How important to have the right mindset?
Pep: “Seve Ballesteros, when he was alive – maybe the best European golfer ever – said that a good attitude is better than a good swing. Attitude is absolutely everything.
“Your mindset, your approach, to be open-minded, to be positive, react well in the bad moments, be calm in the bad moments – it’s everything.
“There’s no sense trying to fight every three days for 11 months to win a title if the relationship every day is not good. It’s part of the reason why we are where we are.
“Of course, the guys who are not playing are sad, and the people who are playing quite often are happy. That’s normal. Even for me, when we win games I’m happy, my reaction is better.
“When we don’t win, I’m thinking inside what I have to do, my reaction is completely different, my mood, but that’s normal.
“You have good moments, bad moments. But try to be stable and have a good relationship. Respect. First, we are humans. That’s why attitude is better than any skill.”
