Good morning, Manchester City fans. Here are your morning headlines for Sunday, October 11.
De Bruyne nonplussed by Messi reports
Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has offered his take on the prospect of Lionel Messi signing for the club.
MEN Sport understands the Blues will be in a position next summer to try to sign the Barcelona forward after he handed in a transfer request prior to the 2020/21 campaign getting underway.
City were merely interested observers during this summer's window and Messi ended up staying at the Camp Nou, but that may change next year given he is out of contract.
De Bruyne, however, is not overly bothered by talk of City signing arguably the greatest player of all time.
“I don’t really care, to be honest,” said the midfielder, ahead of Belgium’s UEFA Nations League clash with England on Sunday.
“If he comes, it’s a good thing, if he doesn’t there is enough good players at the club who I enjoy playing with, so that is not for now.”
De Bruyne delivers contract update
With two-and-a-half years still to run on his contract at the Etihad, it's no surprise De Bruyne is not overly concerned about his future despite reports City are preparing to offer the midfielder a new deal.
“I am very happy at the club," De Bruyne said.
“I have not spoken once to the club, so I don’t know why people are saying I have already agreed to something.
“I have told everybody I am really happy at the club and I feel comfortable, so if the people at the club want to talk to me I am open to that and we will see what happens.”
City stars' importance not replicated with their national teams
Two Manchester City stars continue to be overlooked at international level – and they have difficult decisions to make.
MEN Sport’s Joe Bray has questioned why Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson and French defender Aymeric Laporte are regularly out of favour for Brazil and France respectively.
He writes: “Both are Premier League winners and comfortable playing with the ball at their feet, but this international break is once again reminding the influential pair that their importance to City is not replicated with their national team managers.”
It is understandable why Ederson is not getting regular playing time with the Selecao as he is in direct competition with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
But the City No.1 was left out of Brazil’s squad altogether this month, with Santos and Weverton preferred.
Then there is Laporte who, incredibly, is still waiting for a first French cap.
Bray adds: “His omission this month was understandable, seeing as he missed City’s first three games of the season, but after two appearances before the break, surely he would have been first in line to replace Dayot Upamecano, who withdrew with illness this week.”
Read the full story here.
