Manchester City

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Manchester City have opened discussions over a move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as plans continue for the arrival of Enzo Maresca as their next manager.

Sky Germany reports that the Argentina international sits at the top of Manchester City’s summer transfer shortlist. It also states that ‘initial talks have already taken place behind the scenes’.

The report further notes that Maresca, who is expected to replace Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium ahead of next season, ‘is particularly keen’ on bringing the World Cup winner to his new team.

Maresca is expected to sign an initial three-year contract with Manchester City. His appointment is expected to be finalised ahead of the new campaign.

The Italian coach previously worked with Fernandez during their time together at Chelsea, where both developed a strong professional relationship.

Fernandez has previously spoken critically about Chelsea following Maresca’s departure from Stamford Bridge earlier in the year.

The midfielder has also faced growing speculation about his future at Chelsea, especially after the club’s exit from the Champions League two months ago. His situation was further complicated after he received a two-game suspension linked to comments about a potential move to Real Madrid during the last international break.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has announced that he will leave the club at the end of his spell at the Etihad Stadium.

The Spanish coach made the announcement in a statement released on Friday, which brought an end to speculation surrounding his future at the Premier League side.

“And what a time we have had together,” Guardiola said.

“Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving.

“There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time.”

Guardiola will depart Manchester City after spending 10 years with the club, despite still having one year remaining on his current contract.

The 55-year-old ended his final season with a domestic cup double. However, City failed to retain the Premier League title after they played a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.

Since arriving at Manchester City, Guardiola has enjoyed one of the most successful managerial spells in English football. He won 20 trophies during his time at the club, including six Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League crown.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Arsenal have emerged as champions of the 2025/2026 Premier League season after Manchester City dropped points in a draw against Bournemouth, a result that handed the North London club an unassailable lead at the top of the table.

Mikel Arteta’s side secured the title with one match left to play after opening a four-point gap over City, who now sit on 78 points. Arsenal moved to 82 points following a narrow victory over Burnley in their previous fixture.

The triumph marks Arsenal’s first English top-flight league title in 22 years. The club last won the Premier League during the 2003/2004 campaign under Arsene Wenger, when the famous “Invincibles” completed the season without a defeat.

Arsenal’s title-winning campaign has drawn praise for its discipline and effectiveness, especially from set pieces. The Gunners set a new mark this season after scoring their 18th league goal from a corner situation.

One of those decisive moments came in their recent 1-0 win over Burnley at the Emirates Stadium. Bukayo Saka delivered a precise corner kick that found Kai Havertz, who headed home the winning goal.

The latest success also ends several painful seasons for Arsenal, who came close to lifting the title in recent years but fell short against Manchester City and Liverpool.

By sealing the title before the final round of fixtures, Arsenal avoided the pressure that often comes with a last-day decider. Their final league game against Crystal Palace will now serve as a celebration for the newly crowned champions.

Attention has also shifted to Arsenal’s European campaign. Arteta’s men are preparing for the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.

Victory in that match would see Arsenal complete a historic league and Champions League double.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has delivered an emotional speech in support of Palestinian children, calling on world leaders to take action over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Guardiola spoke on Thursday evening at a charity concert in Barcelona, which led to his absence from Manchester City’s usual pre-weekend news conference on Friday. The club later explained that he missed the briefing for personal reasons, with assistant coach Pep Lijnders stepping in to address the media ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Appearing on stage wearing a keffiyeh scarf, the 55-year-old expressed deep distress over the suffering of children affected by the conflict.

“Good evening, salam alaikum, how wonderful,” Guardiola said at the event.

He went on to describe the scenes that have troubled him over the past two years. “When I see a child in these past two years with these images on social media, on television, recording himself, pleading, ‘where is my mother?’ among the rubble and he still doesn’t know it.”

Guardiola said such images often left him reflecting on the emotional state of the children involved. “And I always think: ‘What must they be thinking?’ And I think we have left them alone, abandoned.”

He added that he imagined the children calling out for help. “I always imagine them saying: ‘Where are you? Come help us.’”

The Manchester City boss criticised global leadership for failing to respond adequately. “And even now, we haven’t done it. Perhaps because those in power are cowards, because they basically send innocent young people to kill innocent people.”

Guardiola urged collective responsibility and action, calling for what he described as a “step forward,” as he said he was making “a statement for Palestine and… a statement for humanity”.

His comments came amid continued tension in Gaza. Although Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire in October, Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than 400 Palestinians have been killed in the months that followed. Israeli media, citing senior military officials, also reported that Israel’s military now accepts that around 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began.

Guardiola’s appearance at the Barcelona event took place during the football season, with Manchester City scheduled to return to action on Sunday.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

Pep Guardiola, the renowned Manchester City manager, delivered a moving and heartfelt speech on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza while receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester this week.

In an emotional address, Guardiola veered from the usual ceremonial tone to speak about the suffering in Gaza, calling for compassion and courage in the face of ongoing violence. 

“It is so painful what we see in Gaza, it hurts all my body,” he said, his voice weighted with emotion. “It is not about ideology but the love of life. It is about refusing to be silent or still when it matters the most.”

Guardiola, known as much for his principled stances as for his tactical brilliance on the pitch, received a standing ovation from many in the audience, including faculty, students, and dignitaries.

The University of Manchester awarded Guardiola the honorary degree in recognition of his contributions to sport and his influence as a global figure. Yet, it was his candid acknowledgement of human suffering and his call for empathy that left a lasting impression.

Social media erupted in praise following the speech, with many highlighting Guardiola’s words as a rare and courageous gesture from a figure in elite sport.

As tensions and humanitarian concerns continue to mount in Gaza, Guardiola’s remarks have added a prominent voice to the growing international calls for peace and justice.

By Aliyu Yakubu Yusuf

It is challenging for any group of players that has won all the available trophies on offer to maintain the same focus and motivation the following season. There’s only one way for any club to win a treble of league title: UCL and the domestic cup. That way is downwards. In this context, I am not overly surprised about Manchester City’s struggles so far this season.

Pep Guardiola is a gaffer who prioritises control and patient buildup in the middle of the park. The current Manchester City team lacks these attributes. Their matches are often chaotic end-to-end affairs that produce plenty of goalscoring chances. This isn’t a quintessential Guardiola team that routinely deprives their opposition of a sniff of the ball, let alone scoring opportunities. I attribute Manchester City’s recent travails to three critical factors:

1. Rodri’s frequent suspensions

Manchester City have lost four games so far this season. A common denominator in all these games is that Rodri missed ALL of them. Make that what you will.

2. Kevin De Bruyne’s Injury

Do I even need to mention the importance of the blond Belgian to this team? Julian Alvarez has deputised in the KDB role, often admirably. However, the Argentine is no midfielder and will never bring the same midfield control and assurance.

3. Gundogan’s Departure/Kovacic’s Poor Form

Pep Guardiola signed the Croatian as a direct replacement for Ilkay Gundogan, who left for a Bosman ruling in the summer. The German was a cornerstone for Manchester City for several years. True, Kovacic is no Gundogan. Still, he has often been poor whenever he steps onto the pitch. He was subsequently relegated to the bench. Guardiola and City surely expected more from the former Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea man.

There you have it. For the record, I still expect Guardiola to sort things out and mount a title challenge as usual. Come the end of the season, the Citizens will be there or thereabout. Write them off at your own peril.

Aliyu Yakubu Yusuf wrote from Kano, Nigeria. He can be contacted via aliyuyy@gmail.com.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Portuguese football star João Cancelo is on the brink of making a remarkable move. 

The highly anticipated transfer is set to see Cancelo trade his Manchester City jersey for the iconic colours of Barcelona as the clubs finalise an imminent loan deal. 

Reports indicate that the documents for the agreement are being exchanged at this very moment, with an intriguing buy-option clause attached to the arrangement. 

The excitement is palpable among fans, as the player himself is reportedly prepared to take flight and embark on a new chapter in his career. 

However, the deal was cloaked in secrecy until the very last moment, leaving fans and pundits alike in awe of the sudden and unexpected twist.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

In an exhilarating match, Arsenal emerged victorious in the Community Shield, securing a well-deserved win for manager Mikel Arteta.

The North London club played against one of their fierce rivals, Manchester City, and defeated them on penalties.

This triumph marks Arteta’s second Community Shield and adds to his tally of three trophies since joining the club in 2019.

Arsenal’s stellar performance also cements their position as one of the most successful teams in the history of the Community Shield, with an impressive 17 titles to their name.

Congratulations pour in for the team and their manager as they celebrate this momentous achievement.

By Muhammadu Sabiu
 
In what could potentially be a significant transfer move, Al Ahli FC is intensifying its efforts to secure the services of Riyad Mahrez. 
 
Talks between the Saudi Arabian club and the Algerian winger have been progressing steadily since June, with indications that Mahrez is ready to accept Al Ahli’s bid.
 
However, despite the positive developments on the player’s side, Manchester City, Mahrez’s current club, is still eagerly awaiting an official proposal and the necessary documents from Al Ahli. 
 
This crucial stage must be completed before proceeding with the booking of a medical examination for the player.
 
The finalisation of the deal is expected to be the main topic of discussion next week, as both clubs look to bring the transfer to a successful conclusion. 
 
Al Ahli’s pursuit of the talented Algerian international is seen as a significant statement of intent, showcasing their ambition to bolster their squad with high-profile signings.

By Aliyu Yakubu Yusuf

Real Madrid and Manchester City played quite an entertaining one-all draw at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. The much went as much as I expected it, with Manchester City dominating the possession, trying to dictate the tempo of the game and Real Madrid pressing the City players, trying to disrupt their rhythm and attacking at full pace through the electric Vinicius Jnr and the young prodigy, Rodrygo Goes.

That was the pattern for much of the game. Real Madrid will be a bit disappointed for not registering a win (no matter how slender) ahead of the second leg next week. Of course, it’s easy to criticise Guardiola for settling for a draw. But come on! We are talking about a FIRST LEG of a UEFA Champions League semi-final. Do you seriously expect any serious coach to attack Real Madrid all guns blazing and risk getting hammered via counter attack?

True, Manchester City players looked tired and disjointed in the closing stages of the game. I expected Guardiola to introduce Mahrez, Alvarez and/or Foden in place of largely ineffectual Bernardo and Grealish. But do I think I know better than Pep Guardiola?

This game can still go either way. Expect that when you are playing against Real Madrid in the UCL. However, from the result of the first leg, Manchester City will be the happier side. They played largely well below their capabilities (thanks to Real Madrid’s game plan and management) and still came out of the mighty Santiago Bernabeu unscathed.

On for the second leg!

Aliyu Yakubu Yusuf wrote from Kano and can be reached via aliyuyy@gmail.com.