Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta has praised utilitarian James Milner after the England international scored a 90th-minute equaliser against Hull City on Saturday.
Milner, 29, is out of a contract at the end of the season, and will surely garner interest from a host of English Premier League clubs.
In the summer, the 29-year-old, who joined City from Aston Villa for around £28.5 million in August 2010, must decide whether he will stay at the Etihad Stadium, likely for a bit-part role, or move on to pastures new.
Team-mate Pablo Zabaleta has made it clear he hopes Milner chooses the former option.
“We know how important James is for this team, for this club,” Zabaleta said. “His commitment and his passion have always been fantastic for this club and this team.
“He is a player who can play in different positions. He is a great professional, a fantastic lad. Hopefully he can sign a new deal and stay with us for many years.”
Milner has tallied one goal and five assists in 21 league appearances, including 12 starts, for Manuel Pellegrini’s side this season.
Carragher: Man Utd should not sign Falcao
Radamel Falcao’s future at Manchester United remains uncertain, but Jamie Carragher believes the club will decline the option to buy the player for £43.5 at the end of the season, and rightly so.
The Colombia international, 28, struggled to make an impact against West Ham United on Sunday, and has bagged a meager four goals in 15 league appearances for the Reds in 2014/15.
Falcao’s lack of pace is extremely noticeable to the naked eye…unless Monaco cut the transfer fee in half, a permanent deal for the Colombian would make little to no sense for United.
“I think Louis van Gaal has got a problem with his strike force,” Carragher said.
“I don’t see Falcao staying at the end of the season and it’s something Manchester United will have to address in the striking department.
“West Ham showed pace and energy through Sakho and Valencia in the first half to get in behind the United defence. But Falcao and Van Persie failed to exploit the same spaces.
“They were just jogging up field, especially Van Persie, ambling up and they didn’t cause a make-shift West Ham back four enough problems.
“When United were in the wide areas, Falcao was ball-watching and that made him easy to mark. He should have been running down the channels. There is not enough movement from the front two, there’s no sprint, spark or energy and that was in complete contrast to West Ham.”
Will Falcao ply his trade at Old Trafford next season?
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