Manchester City

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

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Pep Guardiola threatened to quit Manchester City "100 times" during his decade-long reign as manager but chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said this time he knew the Spaniard "actually meant it".

Guardiola, 55, stepped down at the end of this season after leading the club to 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.

He had one more year remaining on his contract but said in his last news conference that the club needed a "new manager" and "new energy".

Speaking in his annual interview with in-house media, Khaldoon said he realised the exit was to become a reality, adding: "I knew it and that's why I didn't fight it.

"Throughout these years, I've always fought it and always brought him back because I knew that was always the answer.

"But in this particular one, I think he knew - and I knew that he knew - and that is why it was the right thing for him and it was the natural thing."

Before last month's FA Cup final victory over Chelsea, Guardiola was asked whether the visit to Wembley Stadium would be his last. He replied by saying "no way", and that he had "one more year [on his contract]".

But the playful way in which he delivered that line and his quick exit from the room raised a few eyebrows, adding to the mounting speculation.

Guardiola was asked after the draw at Bournemouth on 19 May whether he would still be in charge next season and he replied by saying he had to talk to Khaldoon. His decision was confirmed three days later.

"He's more than just the manager of the club," said Khaldoon. "To me, he's a friend. Over these years we have become close friends and I don't know if he will admit it, but I consider myself his psychiatrist.

"Inevitably we have had a lot of ups and some downs and in the downs, he must have quit 100 times over these 10 years.

"He never thought he would stay more than four years, then more than five years. So in his mind, even year four and five it was always 'OK, how much more time? How much more time?' And it always had to be done in the correct way.

"There was always going to be one moment where it was going to be real."

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We asked for your views on whether Elliot Anderson would be your first-choice signing in midfield and how much you would be willing to pay, after Manchester City had their first bid turned down by Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: He would be up there for me as a top priority. With Bernardo Silva going, we need someone in the middle with a good work ethic and he fits the bill. Towards the end of the season, Anderson began to add goals to his game too. He looks a pretty complete footballer, and with question marks over Rodri, I would be hopeful of us agreeing a fee for him. If we don't pay it, someone else will.

Carl: Anderson has had one good Premier League season (much like Enzo Maresca!) but is nowhere near the quality of a Declan Rice yet. Anderson is probably worth £60m but will cost twice that. Reminds me of the Jack Grealish transfer when City massively overpaid for a good English player. City should pass on Anderson if it's more than £70m and look for better value abroad.

Youssef: Anderson and Rodri (if he stays) in midfield would be dynamic. Anderson could make up for the versatility and work-rate of Silva, so we need him. As for the cost, my ceiling would be £120m. Might sound like a lot, but when you watch him, you'll know he's worth it.

Harry: The price I expect for Anderson is maybe slightly more than Arsenal paid for Rice. Whether he's worth that or not is subjective - all I'd say is that (just as Rice is for Arsenal) he's the exact profile we are in dire need of having lost Bernie. He will objectively improve our midfield and be a starter, which is incredible to say at 23 years old. Evangelos Marinakis wants £120m and I can't blame him. Elliot is an incredible talent and he walks into our team. I don't want any alternatives, and arguing over £10-15m with a side like Forest seems petty. Give them the amount they want - we'll be called a moneybags side regardless.

Ian: I don't see how he's worth in excess of £100m. We've made that mistake once and I can't believe we would make it again.

Sefunmi: Anderson has to be our first choice, not only because the midfielder market is quite sparse but because of, simply, natural ability. We're talking about one of the best players in the world in the next few years.

Jaydee: City have a history of not being held to ransom despite their deep pockets. I expect they will have a ceiling and at least one or two other cheaper options - Adam Wharton, Alex Scott, etc. See Florian Wirtz and Rayan Cherki as most recent examples.

The 2026-27 Premier League season will be here before we know it, with the first matches taking place on Saturday, 22 August.

We have a simple question for you - what one thing needs to change at your club before the new campaign and why?

It can be a player, manager, ticketing issue, owner, or wider change.

Let us know in detail here

Daniel Austin
BBC Sport senior journalist

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Manchester City are contemplating taking legal action after a Real Madrid presidential candidate promised to sign their striker Erling Haaland.

Enrique Riquelme - a renewable energy magnate who is challenging current president Florentino Perez for the position - unveiled a Real Madrid shirt bearing Haaland's name while on television on Wednesday, saying: "He has a release clause and would like to join Real Madrid. If I become president, he will play for Real Madrid."

A swift denial was issued in a joint statement by Haaland's father and agent, before City rubbished the suggestion.

"The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue," the statement read. "There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it.

"We are considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context."

Haaland's father Alfe Inge and agent Rafaela Pimenta said in their joint statement: "All very entertaining but not true.

"We wish all the best for both candidates in the Real Madrid elections."

• Read more here

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So, Manchester City have had an opening offer for Elliot Anderson turned down by Nottingham Forest.

After a brilliant season at the City Ground, it has been widely expected that Anderson would move on this summer.

A potential fee for Anderson could be a record for a British player and eclipse the £105m Arsenal paid West Ham for Declan Rice in 2023.

City have made the first move with the 23-year-old England international leaning towards a move to Etihad Stadium over Manchester United.

What do you think about this development/ Would Anderson be your first choice for central midfield - and if not, why not? Also, how much would you be willing to pay if you were in charge of the negotiations?

Let us know here

Atletico Madrid are keen on Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

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The way things at Chelsea have "fallen apart" since Enzo Maresca's exit shows "how important a figure and how good a manager he was", says The Athletic journalist and Blues fan Lucy Oliver.

BBC Radio Manchester spoke to fans of both of Maresca's former sides in England, Chelsea and Leicester, to assesses the Italian's suitability as Pep Guardiola's successor at Manchester City.

"There had been the public showings of discontent," Oliver said. "He had stopped wearing the club's tracksuit and had spoken out against the owner.

"We could tell not everything was quite what it seemed.

"He did get quite a hard time with the Chelsea fans, maybe because he is quite a reserved character and not that big, flamboyant personality type. They had started to turn around on him a little bit because he had spoken out about the ownership and it was the ownership above him that we were griping with.

"That's what made it harder when he left. While they gave him a tough time to start with, by the end he was the only hope and the person who was actually getting a tune out of these players. The way it has fallen apart after he's left just shows how important a figure and how good a manager he was."

On Maresca's Championship-winning campaign with Leicester, Foxes fan Ben added: "It was incredible. Off the back of the Premier League relegation there was uncertainty but there was excitement when he came in. It was amazing to go straight back up, especially with what else was going on at the club.

"He's from that Pep lineage of managers we are seeing be so successful. A lot of possession, a lot of the ball with the centre backs to bring on the press, and then breaking the line with passes. Interesting things with inverting the full-backs - there are lot of similarities.

"He is the perfect successor I would say."

Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds

Manchester City and Chelsea are interested in Juventus' wing-back Andrea Cambiaso, 26, with Barcelona also monitoring the Italy international's situation. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

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In a new BBC Sport documentary, James Milner reflects on a career that has ended at 40, after making a record 658 Premier League appearances with six different clubs.

Team-mates and coaches reveal the drive behind 24 years at the top.

Watch below or on BBC iPlayer here

Wayne Rooney has picked his Premier League team of the season.

You can listen to his reasoning for selections and find out who he thought was the Premier League's best player by tuning into The Wayne Rooney Show.

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Freddie Pye
Fan writer

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James Milner had his best years at Manchester City because he was operating at the peak of his efficiency in front of goal and significance within a side shaking up the established domestic hierarchy at the top of English football.

While subsequent years at Liverpool brought further silverware, it was his five-year tenure in east Manchester that defined his status as a true Premier League utility weapon, seamlessly transitioning between midfield, wide roles and even makeshift centre-forward.

Under Roberto Mancini, he provided the physical steel and defensive energy required to convert an ambitious project at City into a true winning machine.

Under Manuel Pellegrini's expansive, free-flowing attacking blueprint, Milner demonstrated an outlook on the game that was far more than just work-rate.

Milner was a key catalyst in elevating City to new, trophy-winning heights, playing a critical role in ending the club's 35-year silverware drought with the 2011 FA Cup; a breakthrough that set them on their way towards a dominant era, with Milner also securing two Premier League titles, a League Cup and a Community Shield.

For City, Milner recorded 19 goals and 38 assists across 203 appearances, averaging a goal contribution every 3.6 games. For Liverpool, Milner had a contribution every 4.6 games (26 goals and 46 assists in 332 matches) as his role shifted slightly deeper.

While at the Etihad, Milner successfully combined his renowned work-rate with a decisive goal threat.

It directly led to silverware and success - certainly representing the prime of his career.

Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external

James Milner has called time on a remarkable a 24-year Premier League career, in which he has clocked up numerous impressive and record-breaking statistics.

He made 964 senior appearances for both club and country, with his 658 Premier League appearances the most of any player in competition history.

He is both the youngest and second-oldest Premier League goalscorer, and is 10th in the competition's assist charts, providing 90 across his 658 appearances.

Those 90 assists were for 47 different players in the Premier League, with Liverpool's Roberto Firmino benefitting from more Milner assists than anyone else (10).

Among the records Milner holds during the Premier League era, there is the the most substitute appearances by a player (218), while only eight players have more than his 13 goals as a substitute in the competition.

His 658 Premier League appearances came across six different clubs and in February he became only the fourth outfielder in the competition's history to start a match in his 40s.

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Former Manchester City midfielder James Milner has announced his retirement from playing, bringing the end to a glittering 24-year Premier League career.

The 40-year-old, who joined Manchester City from Aston Villa in a deal reportedly worth £26m in August 2010, played for six different teams in England's top flight.

After making his Premier League debut for Leeds United as a 16-year-old in 2002, he went on to break the record for the most Premier League appearances.

Milner, who could play on the wing, in midfield and at full-back, won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Super Cup, two FA Cups, two Carabao Cups, two Community Shields and the Club World Cup throughout his career.

He posted a farewell message on Instagram, external, which read: "After 24 seasons in the Premier League, it feels like the right time to bring an end to my playing career.

"From making my debut for Leeds United, who I supported growing up, at the age of 16 and becoming the Premier League's youngest scorer, I could never have dreamed of the journey I have been on, right through to not being able to lift my foot last year and then coming back to be part of Brighton qualifying for Europe for the second time in their history at the age of 40.

"To have gone on to represent Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton - and not forgetting a memorable month at Swindon Town - has been an incredible privilege.

"Every club has played a huge role in my life and career, and I want to thank everyone involved - the owners, staff, coaches, teammates and supporters who welcomed me and helped me along the way.

"I have been fortunate enough to experience some unforgettable moments, from fighting for survival to winning trophies, playing in Europe, and representing my country England at two European Championships and two World Cups.

"But more than anything, it is the people and friendships I have made throughout the game that I'll cherish forever.

"To the fans, thank you. To those who supported me every step of the way, your encouragement meant more than you'll ever know. And to those who gave me grief along the way, thank you too - you all played your part in making the journey memorable and helping shape me as a player and person.

"To my family, thank you for every sacrifice, every mile travelled and every moment of encouragement. None of this would have been possible without you.

"I leave the game with immense pride, gratitude and memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Football has given me far more than I could ever have imagined, and I will always be thankful for the opportunities it provided.

"Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey."

Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, 31, is keen to join Barcelona with his contract at Manchester City set to expire imminently. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

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