PERFECT FOR PEP: WHY SERGIO AGUERO BELIEVES RAPHINHA IS THE ULTIMATE CITY WINGER
Raphinha to Man City: Discover why Aguero thinks the Barca winger fits Pep’s system and the update on Julian Alvarez’s future.
Sergio Agüero thinks Raphinha would be a dream signing for Manchester City. The Brazilian winger made a real impact during his time at Leeds United, racking up 17 goals and 12 assists in just two seasons. Honestly, Leeds probably owed their Premier League survival back then to him; right after he left, they dropped to the Championship.
When Raphinha first arrived at Barcelona, things didn’t go smoothly. There were constant rumours about him heading back to England, but he managed to work his way into the starting lineup and became a key player. Since Hansi Flick took charge for the 2023/24 season, Raphinha’s numbers have exploded to 47 goals and 31 assists so far. Flick just knows how to get the best out of his attacking players, and Raphinha’s thriving because of it.
Still, whispers about Raphinha leaving Barcelona haven’t gone away. The club’s financial problems just won’t quit, and they’re reportedly open to selling a big-name player if the price is right. Arsenal and Chelsea have both been linked to him in the past, but they’re after younger players these days. But Agüero says City shouldn’t be counted out.
Talking to Trivela, Aguero was asked which Brazilian player would fit best at City under Pep Guardiola. He didn’t hesitate; Raphinha’s his pick. “Among those already in Europe, I really like Raphinha. He would fit perfectly into City’s style,” Aguero said.
If City did sign Raphinha, he’d probably be their top winger right away. He ticks all the boxes for Guardiola’s system. But let’s be real, the transfer isn’t likely. City has shifted focus to younger talent guys like Savinho, Jeremy Doku, and Rayan Cherki as they look to refresh the squad.
Barcelona, strapped for cash, would consider selling Raphinha, but they’d probably pump that money right back into their attack. There’s talk of Julian Alvarez now at Atletico Madrid being on their radar. With Robert Lewandowski’s contract up and Barcelona needing a new striker, that’s a priority for them this summer. If Alvarez is too pricey, Sport says they might go for City’s Omar Marmoush instead.
So, what about a swap deal of Raphinha for Marmoush or someone else? It sounds unlikely.
Sure, Raphinha is the “perfect fit". But City aren’t about to splash a huge fee on someone about to turn 30.
Aguero also touched on Guardiola’s future at City. Fans are worried he might leave, but Aguero doesn’t think there’s any reason to panic. “Pep still has one more year on his contract,” he said. “There’s no point debating it now; it just creates noise. When the time comes, it’ll be sorted. Nothing to stress about.”
MANCHESTER CITY REACH FINAL STAGES FOR TROYES SENSATION MATHYS DETOURBET THIS SUMMER
Mathys Detourbet to join Man City! See how the club beat PSG to sign the Troyes winger while eyeing a Newcastle target.
Manchester City are closing in on a deal for Mathys Tel, Troyes’ highly rated young winger. Sources tell StadiumNest that talks are heading toward the finish line, and both clubs stand to benefit, especially Troyes, who want to secure promotion this season.
Back in January, we reported that City had been looking at rising talent in their network of sister clubs. Detourbet and his teammate Christ Batola, both at Troyes, caught their eye right away.
Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest in the pair too, but City Football Group are determined to keep both players within their system.
As things stand, Detourbet is set to sign for Manchester City this summer. The plan is for him to return to Troyes on loan for next season, giving him more time to play and develop.
Troyes, sitting at the top of the Ligue 2 table and aiming to get back to Ligue 1 for the first time since 2022/23, sees this arrangement as a win. Keeping Detourbet, who has four goals and seven assists from 35 matches, gives them a better shot at promotion, even as they sell him to City.
As for the second star, 16-year-old striker Batola, he’s expected to sign a new long-term deal with Troyes, which keeps him within the City Group setup for now. The city sees him as a future option; Batola has scored nine and assisted twice in just 21 appearances this season. Locking him down keeps his talent in their circle and gives them flexibility down the road.
City is moving quickly, especially with PSG sniffing around. They look set to land Detourbet and keep Batola as a prospect, showing off the strength of their global multi-club model.
Meanwhile, in terms of immediate signings, City remain focused on landing a Newcastle United player labelled as a “dream target", though they’re also exploring other options heading into the summer transfer window.
ERLING HAALAND CALM DESPITE FOUR-MATCH DROUGHT: "THERE'S NOTHING TO LOSE, NO PRESSURE"
Erling Haaland and Man City take on Arsenal at the Etihad. Get the latest team news and title race odds for tonight.
Man City sits second in the league, trailing the leaders by six points with six games left to play. Pep Guardiola’s squad, however, holds a game in hand over Arsenal.
If City manage to beat Arsenal today and then secure a win against Burnley, they could draw level on points with the North London club, maybe even surpass them depending on the goal difference.
So far, Haaland has netted 22 goals in 31 Premier League matches, but the Norwegian doesn’t see any extra pressure on City heading into this game. He’s gone without scoring in his last four outings.
“Right now, I’m quite calm,” Haaland told Sky Sports.
“It’s one game per week, which is pretty unusual for us. It hardly ever happens. Honestly, I don’t feel much nervousness because we’ve been chasing all season. There’s nothing to lose, so no real pressure.
“You’d have to ask Arsenal if they feel pressure. I can only speak for myself. I don’t feel much pressure because we’re still a fair way behind.”
Last season, Haaland had a memorable clash with Gabriel during a 2-2 draw at the Etihad. Gabriel shouted in Haaland’s face, and Haaland responded by tossing a ball at the Arsenal defender and telling their manager Arteta to “stay humble” after a heated exchange that also involved several other Gunners players, including ex-City forward Gabriel Jesus.
“It’s always a battle,” Haaland said about facing Arsenal.
“They usually have a lot of players around me, which actually works in my favour. It means something. It’s tough playing with many players crowding you, but it’s a good fight. As I said, it’s always good to test yourself against the best because that’s what you want.”
Arsenal, arriving today, has been inconsistent lately. They’ve only won once in their last five matches and narrowly scraped a 0-0 draw against Sporting Lisbon in their recent Champions League semi-final clash.
