Confusion reigned at Manchester City on Friday after Manuel Pellegrini insisted the young midfielder Marcos Lopes would not be sold by the club only for City’s official website to announce he had been signed by Monaco shortly after.
Pellegrini was speaking before Watford’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Asked about Lopes, a 19-year-old Portugal Under-21 international who joined City from Benfica in 2011 and became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer at the age of 17 in January 2013, Pellegrini said: “Marcos is still a player here for Manchester City. We will see his future in the next hours. I think Marcos needs to play more in another club. He is a very good player.
“I am sure in the future he will be part of our club but for this year he must continue trying to play as much football as he can. Here he has a lot of competition with David [Silva] and Samir [Nasri] so it is better for him to go on loan.”
The Chilean was pressed to confirm any move would be merely a loan. He said: “Yes, just for this season.” But less than an hour after the press conference, mcfc.com announced: “Marcos Lopes has joined AS Monaco on a permanent deal.” The fee is believed to be in the region of £9m.”
Pellegrini’s comments may call into question how abreast he is of player matters below the first team despite the club’s £200m investment in the bespoke City Football Academy.
Having arrived at Monaco, Lopes tweeted: “Want to thank everyone that worked with me in @MCFC since day 1 and a special word for Patrick Vieira: a great manager and coach & TOP MAN!
“Thank you @AS_Monaco for the wonderful welcome and for believing in me! I’m honoured and eager to work hard!!”
City have signed a striker, Ponferradina’s Rubén Sobrino, according to the Spanish club’s website. The 23-year-old has been bought for €275,000 plus a potential €200,000 more via add-ons, Ponferradina have stated.
Meanwhile, Wilfried Bony, one of only two strikers Pellegrini can currently call upon, is unavailable forto face Watford due to because of injury. “Unfortunately Bony had yesterday [Thursday] a gapsh in his leg of around six or seven centimetres [caused in training] so he is not able to play tomorrow,” confirmed Pellegrini. “After the international break, he will be ready for the next game so it must be seven or 10 days.”
The Chilean is also unable to choose Nicolaás Otamendi, City’s new £32m defender, as he still does not have the requisite paperwork following his move from Valencia. Fernando, GaelGaël Clichy, and Pablo Zabaleta all also remain unavailable due to their respective maladiesare still unavailable.
“For tomorrow [Watford] we have three young players in our squad, Clichy is injured, Zabaleta is injured, Otamendi is out and Bony is injured. Fernando is injured. In the squad list we have Pablo Maffeo from the EDS, and Kelechi Iheanacho and Patrick Roberts,” the manager said.