Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has hailed Daniel Sturridge, claiming that the Chelsea star would be in City’s first XI had he still been with the club.
“It was strange because Sturridge was developed in Manchester [in the academy] and someone let him go,” Mancini said, according to The Mail.
“For sure he was one of the best young players at City. It was not difficult to see he was a good player.
“If Sturridge was here today, he’d be in the first team. I’ve watched him many times and know him well.
“When we played Bolton last year [where Sturridge was on loan from Chelsea], I asked him why he had left City.
“He said he didn’t know. It would have been better for City to send him on loan to improve than let him leave altogether.”
It’s hard for me to believe that Sturridge would be a first XI player at Etihad Stadium, but he would definitely get some playing time.
Perhaps in the Europa League?
All joking aside, the former Manchester City youth player has blossomed into a dangerous weapon for Andre Villas-Boas and Chelsea FC.
Sturridge has been on cracking form since returning from his loan spell with Bolton Wanderers last season.
During his loan spell, the England international bagged eight goals in just 12 matches for the Trotters, yielding a magnificent goal-scoring record.
The Chelsea hit-man has netted eight goals and two assists in 16 appearances in 2011-12, putting him on Fabio Capello’s radar for a possible Euro 2012 selection.
According to Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, Arsene Wenger will remain as the Gunners boss “for a long time to come.”
“Arsene’s only 62 and in great shape and I don’t sense any weakening of his desire,” Gazidis told reporters.
“Nobody knows what the future holds but it is entirely possible that he will be with the club for a long time to come.”
“The conversation I had with him in Athens was talking about squad planning for 2016-17. I know what he meant by talking about the short-term. He wants to be successful and that’s important.
“At the same time he cares about this club so deeply, he’s thinking about things that will only impact the club after he has gone.
“That is very unusual, not unique, but very unusual. Football is a very volatile world. One of the great advantages we have through our continuity – and Manchester United have this in Sir Alex Ferguson – is that we have a manager who actually puts the club above his own self interest.
“It is a privilege to work with Arsene. He is an extraordinary individual with an unbelievable commitment to the club.”
How long will Wenger remain as the Gunners boss?
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