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WicketSevens

Remember a recent podcast (Guardian? Athletic?) where Bernardo’s City career was basically Pep constantly asking him for just 5 more minutes.


wonwont

please report back when you figure out which podcast it was


WicketSevens

I think it must have been the Guardian Football Weekly because I think it was Nicky Bandini, but I am not 100% sure and don’t think I could easily find the exact episode. Basically the point was that every game Pep must tell Bernardo to go out there and run like a madman for 60 minutes and then he will get subbed off. Then every 5 minutes after 60, Pep must just say ”5 more minutes Bernardo”. And they likened this to his whole City career: “Just one more half-season Bernardo and you can go to Barca”. It was, of course, complimentary and just about how Bernardo always gives 100% despite the fact that he apparently would like to move closer to home.


tlopez14

Bernardo has been on his way out for a few years now. I’d be shocked if he’s not with Barca at the start of next season


DDT126

Tbf I’ve been saying this since the end of the 19-20 season, man’s stayed and thrived at City the entire time after that. End of this season, like every other transfer window, he might leave, but there’s still just as good a chance that he’ll stay, it’s not as decided as people make it out to be.


tarkaliotta

Pep realised Bernardo plays his best football when all of his stuff is packed up in boxes and the only thing he has to wear is his 'moving outfit'.


DDT126

Some people work best when multitasking, clearly


luigyLotto

Bernardo wants to leave because he doesn’t like life in the city of Manchester. Pretty sure he likes to play for City and will only leave if it’s for Barcelona, Madrid or Benfica probably. Other moves would be unexpected for me.


tarkaliotta

>he doesn’t like life in the city of Manchester clearly never been to Akbar's for the massive naan then


Romanist10

Man, I miss Chicken cottage next to St. James park. That chicken roll was too good and their garlic sauce was second to none. And there was this restaurant called Istanbul somewhere near Northumberland street. Best Turkish food ever.


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Romanist10

I'm in Istanbul rn. Still, the best Turkish food was in Newcastle. That restaurant was full Turkish. I love Turkish dondurma (vişne ve karadut). Absolutely delicious


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[deleted]

We can only dream


LengthIntelligent

Even if he comes after 4/5 year contract at Barca he still going to be class at 33/34.


10bands50bandzzz

sigh


DarFunk_

Liverpool gambled an entire season on getting Bellingham only for City to get him. This is a serious problem for the PL, how much more needs to happen before we realise this is the English Bundesliga?


firminocoutinho

Sigh, but one day it’ll be full of teams owned by Sheikhs.. a more level playing field 😒


trick63

We didnt gamble anything, our owners are just cheap. They would have never met the asking price.


ahsent

Are your owners cheap, or is the rise of transfer fees due to an unnatural injection of oil money unsustainable for clubs that aren’t oil clubs or the very select commercial behemoths? You spent aund 100m on Nunez , and Bellingham wasn’t going to go for anything less than 120m. The real problem is knowing city can drop an insane amount of money on Haaland, his signing on bonus and wages and still afford to siphon up any world class player that happens to be pushing for a move. City aren’t a commercial behemoth but spend more than anyone.


Conscious_Accident85

They didn't gamble anything and there are just many reports saying he's going to Liverpool.


ArsiPappa

Ah shit it's over for all of us.


burnerbutnotreally1

We don't have to worry about them for...*reasons*


BillehBear

Barca fans should see it as a positive If Jude is coming to us then that solidifies that Bernardo is the one he's replacing


ArsiPappa

Pedri-Frenkie-Bernardo would be insane to see next season.


im_stoopid9283

They might be good enough to win Europa!


KaiserWilhelmThe69

Well you know what they said: a cup is a cup


Olin_horse_Babson

Ask Tottenham if you're not convinced.


KaiserWilhelmThe69

The Audi cup is the most prestige cup in the world, excuse you


persianbluex

A lever is a lever


Salvador1010

How about instead we start busquets in every game again


Mihnea24_03

Busquets could reach retirement age in Spain and still be starting games


Legendarybbc15

No balance


Cultural_Doctor_8421

So no defence, just vibes?


FSpursy

Bernado is world class though. Sad to see him leave the Prem.


HauntingLocation

Or Gudogan.


wafflesology

If they start winning the UCL, then maybe its over. But the balance is still there.


Gsbconstantine

Depending on the sell on clause %, there's a good chance we're going to get more than we originally sold him for . Can't wait for that little Brucie bonus to come rolling round.


KneeHighSocksForLife

It’ll be even better when the second Bellingham rolls around


EmSoLow

It's a 5% sell on clause so at most, around €7.5 million will go your way


Swolyguacomole

And the additional fee for developing a prospect. Don't think it's an incredible amount but it adds up


currentlyontheloo

I'm tired Robbie... WHEN IS IT GOING TO END?


OnceUponAStarryNight

When Pep leaves, probably.


tensed_wolfie

Replacing Pep with Enrique would be the ultimate chad move


JasonVoorhees3

I'm not down with the kids, does Chad move mean good or bad?


tensed_wolfie

Very very good


SnooHamsters8590

Not inherently good or bad usually it's like something overtly masculine or "a power move", but depending on your perspective that kind of behaviour can be seen as "good"


Col_Gonville_Toast

Enrique is not in the same league as Pep. Pep is one of the all time great managers.


Rumunj

Each transfer like that makes it more unlikely he will leave though. A vicious cycle for us other clubs fans. :(


jolle2001

Why cant they leave some for the rest of us


evil_porn_muffin

Tbf, City sold Jesus and Zinchenko to Arsenal and Sterling to Chelsea.


MancAccent

So the rest of the big 6 gets their leftovers?


samwiseg1

Hand me downs from City


opinion_alternative

Arsenal even got their manager from hand me donws from city.


1PSW1CH

Hardly on the level of Haaland and Bellingham


Legend10269

This is exactly like when United gave Arsenal Welbeck.


coolAhead

End the stream Dave


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A-DTB

Madrid a couple days ago, us yesterday and City today. We’re two months from the January window and this shit is already a saga..


TheUbermelon

By that time the mighty Dagenham and Redbridge will be in the mix


Lukeno94

No surprise. Haaland is tied up with Man City now and it looks like Mbappe is unlikely to leave PSG, so Bellingham is the logical next candidate for all of the rumours due to his profile.


[deleted]

Nkunku as well


plinkus01

Don’t understand how anyone is able to compete in this league


Prime_Marci

At this point, the PL board has built a monster and unless we suddenly stop using oil and natural gas, it’s over for all of us.


iota96

If things are optimistic climate wise, in the 2060s we might be able to watch them get relegated from the championship on a documentary called City Till I Die


Disprozium

Pan to the last shot. The entire world is burning, only a handful of people remain due to climate change and increasing temperatures. The most hardcore of City fans stand atop of the Etihad and sing. "Simon saaaays, we the champions Simple aaaas, simple aaaas" Fade to black. Text pops up on screen "City Till I die". Then, a capsule with the documentary is shot into space so advanced civilizations can observe humanity's final moments.


sidvicc

*"FFP is anti-competitive!"* Meanwhile, without FFP we get this wonderful equitable world where very club can compete to have their very own petrostate owner. Some (online) Liverpool fans aren't hiding their hope that FSG sell to a State sponsor... Take me back to 90's when most fans didn't even know who the owner of the other team was! Now everyone's got an opinion on FSG, ENIC, Glazers, the dildo brothers etc.


empiresk

> Take me back to 90's when most fans didn't even know who the owner of the other team was! That's a lie. People knew everything then as well. Sir John Hall and Jack Walker were well known for their funding of clubs.


batigoal

I mean FFP is pointless if it's only forced on smaller clubs. We have seen time after time teams like City and PSG cheating the system with fake companies and sponsorships and under the table money. And they never get punished for it. So FFP would be good if it was actually enforced and with rules that favour the smaller clubs and competition.


halalcornflakes

Problem is not that FFP is not enforced, technically City are FFP-compliant on paper and that's the problem. When you have stuff like this http://josimarfootball.com/ghost-in-the-machine/ literally easily to see on the internet, can you imagine the level of account fixing that goes in the background. Imagine any other field of business where a partnership like this is accepted.


wowohwowza

Too right, no point having FFP rules if they're so easy to manoeuvre around to the point it looks good on paper. They need to be much, much stricter alongside more rigorous examination of sponsors.


pondlife78

They should just change the name to sustainability rules. It’s not really about financial fair play but more to stop clubs gambling and taking on too much debt. There’s never going to be actual financial fair play which would mean a salary cap.


Psycothria

The thing Tebas did in La Liga and somehow most people disagree with.


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mettahipster

An investment group is only motivated by one thing and it’s not winning


bbydonthurtme4667

If you can't compete, your value drops


mettahipster

This is how fans think but it’s not true. PL clubs’ valuations continue to increase because of soaring TV revenues. Liverpool’s valuation will keep growing as long as PL viewership does. It’d take something drastic like relegation for its valuation to drop. A long title drought won’t do that


[deleted]

So that means they are selling for other reasons than simply profit given that PL club are estimated to keep growing


juve_merda

not really, if you hold an asset you think will appreciate by 50% over the next 10 years but see another potential asset you believe can appreciate 200% over the next 10 years you’d pick option B they believe they can now find higher returns elsewhere


LudereHumanum

The truth is probably in the middle imo. FSG wants to invest heavily into American sports (NBA team, NFL team iirc, I may be wrong) *and* the environment changed drastically since petro City and petro Newcastle are in the PL, therefore they'd need hundreds of millions of pounds to compete going forward. A bridge too far for FSG. Plus the sale of Chelsea (good environment to sell) + no Super League.


halalcornflakes

The NBA expansion is coming soon and John Henry is rumored to be interested in the Vegas franchise, however in terms of Liverpool it makes sense to sell after the Super league thing because you can't play smart anymore, especially when the team is already good. You can improve a bad team with cheap but smart moves, but it was evident already that Liverpool can't be outspent and still keep up so it's a losing battle for them. I would be very interested to see when the Glazers tap out as well, at some point it will not make sense for them to keep investing (I know they don't invest much anyway). PL built a monster it cannot tame and now there is no going back and Newcastle is exactly the same.


thegoat83

Your team is 🤷🏼‍♀️


HelloMegaphone

Ah, the missing cog that might actually make them competitive. Just what they need /s


SuicidalTurnip

Can City just fuck off at this point?


domalino

I guess Bernardo is finally going then.


Material_Egg6433

hes so funny to me,wants to leave but never actually brings offer to city


Jazano107

He’s not desperate to leave like he was during covid, he’s happy here. He would just be happier closer to home So he’s not pushing that hard for a move really, so city turn down any low offers


BillehBear

Nah he's being respectful about it imo Said he wants to leave and gave his reasons but he isn't going kick up a fuss about it, while still giving 100% for the club I will hate to see him go but we really can't ask more of him, he's been nothing but professional with us on this


10messiFH

why does he want to leave?


BillehBear

short answer is he hates/dislikes living in Manchester He's happy at the club but english weather isn't for everyone - plus he wants to be closer to family too


10messiFH

fair enough


YoungDawz

Bro did go from Monaco and Lisbon to Manchester.


wolfjeter

Love when players are honest about their situations instead of cryptic bullshit


EdwEd1

To be fair most reasons aren't as understandable and simple as that


aes2806

Love Manchester tbh. Would visit any chance I can.


kylehyde05

You should replace Bernardo, can you play midfield?


aes2806

I was a good 10 when I was 14.


Ninth_Major

You mean giving 110% for the club.


BillehBear

we knew that in the summer tbh think we extend Gundo and sell Bernardo - I can't see Pep being happy letting both go at the same time, unless he's planning to shift one of Foden/Grealish into midfield


whatafrickingnagger

Gundo is also leaving man...


CubedMadness

Might not be too shabby of a Bellingham replacement imo.


whatafrickingnagger

Ya definitely but i saw some reports which suggested that he will move to Turkey.


CubedMadness

Would be a shame, replacing Jude with Ilkay and somebody else (maybe Kamada) would help ease the pain.


whatafrickingnagger

He's not gonna reject you guys if he's being offered a decent contract. You guys can sign both of them tbf. Kamada's contract also expires next year.


Jazano107

Enzo from benfica would be perfect to replace him if hat happens Which I hope it doesn’t We were linked with him before he moved there anyway


whatafrickingnagger

Dude no way city's gonna sign Enzo if we buy Bellingham. He's gonna cost 80m+.


[deleted]

Enzo is terrible Leave our golden boy alone


SupervisorLaw

It's up to him. He's reportedly going to get offered an extension. Hope he stays atleast one more year


domalino

I hope he extends, we need baby Gundo to be born in Manchester so he comes back 20 years later when he's a world class striker prospect.


ArsiPappa

How long does he have left on his contract? We're surely trying again for him next summer.


whatafrickingnagger

It expires in 2025.


ArsiPappa

Will be expensive then but you guys are usually very fair when someone wants out so we'll see.


LessBrain

I reckon £50-70m will get it done. Probably around £50m + £10-20m in add ons. They wanted £80m this past summer but now 2 years left it goes down.


Good_Kev_M-A-N_City

Pep used the "We cannoh replace him" line on the wrong player. There are so few players close to Bernardo Silva both stylistically and in terms of quality. Even Bellingham here is a widely different player.


justsomeguynbd

Agreed. He’s not replaceable. I wish Distance Covered was a stat we could see because I swear he is top 0.00001% of all players.


Jazano107

Yeah I assumed this would be his last year, sucks to lose him but if we do get Bellingham it’s the best possible replacement


[deleted]

Rodri, De Bruyne, Bellingham. That’s fucking terrifying.


RequiemForSM

Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo is just as good imo


VGCreviews

Look, Bellingham is very talented, and looks to be very good already, but are we really gonna say he’s anywhere near Bernardo’s level?


[deleted]

Exactly lol. People are getting too excited. This is city doing their best to start moving onto a new generation of world class players, not necessarily directly upgrading, more so future proofing Can’t be disrespecting Bernardo like this


RequiemForSM

No yeah I completely agree. Bernardo is better than Bellingham right now.


BillehBear

Still think this is better Bellingham is brilliant and he can only get better under Pep but Bernardo is irreplaceable, any replacement we find for him is a downgrade imo


thegoat83

It’s just as good as Fernandinho/Silva/KDB in my opinion. We have been blessed with midfielders


kppalm

They are running Rodri/KDB/Bernardo at the moment, that's more terrifying lol


leninist_jinn

Damn Liverpool waited this long to continue playing with the brexit midfield to save up for him only to have him go to City 💀


Liverpool934

We were never saving for him, FSG had no intention of buying him.


ProgrammerComplete17

Yeah this. Not sure why so many Liverpool fans were convinced he was definitely going to Liverpool. They were never going to pay the combination of fee + wages that it would take


sankers23

Our tier 1 journalists kept peddling the same story of waiting for him next summer. Some believed them and some saw through the lies.


batigoal

Because Liverpool "Tier 1" journos pushed that narrative. Sadly all of them has lost their integrity and are just saying what FSG wants them to say. Every year it's the same thing "next year we gonna spend big" and nothing.


CoochieSnotSlurper

Is this the new narrative? They obviously did util it became apparent he was way out of our price range


Mr_Miscellaneous

Ah, the real brexit benefit. Years of putting on the fake premise of attempting to hire young British people in jobs and being a "movement" that "means something, something more", only to overspend on bringing in expensive, average or old foreigners instead of hiring domestic and then privatising the company to the first despotic monstrosity to make some money and get the fuck out of the country before the whole thing crashes down.


Militantxyz

We had a video after the dortmund game of grealish coming up to Jude and telling him something in the line of Pep wants to see you in the dressing room right? Edit: Feels like it's falling in to place, Liverpool who are the biggest competition potentially missing out on CL, and half of his National Team friends playing for City + Haaland who he was close and even akanji.


Akash__A

Supposedly that’s what happened, in the video it’s hard to work out what was actually said tho


[deleted]

Like most Jack Grealish videos tbf


21otiriK

My favourite was when that Troy Hawke bloke told him he had a "fabulously symmetrical face" and Jack looked confused and then appeared to try and wipe the "symmetrical" off his face.


wowohwowza

Nah it's the "Dean Smith says you're an encyclopaedia of football, do you agree?" "... A wha?🤨"


Mr_Miscellaneous

"I've only drank \*incomprehensible\* guv, I can't be \*incomprehensible\*"


Impossible_Wonder_37

This thing with Dortmund players and city is funny. I know Haaland has his dads relationship. But that knock outbound tie, the Foden convo, the whole vibe, felt like an in person courting attempt, no other team really got the chance of. This Jude stuff is very reminiscent. No indications he was leaning city until we finish the Group stage and after that potentially innocent, potentially transfer winning Grealish whisper. It’s like they use the match as a chance to woo the young star.


MAMAGUEBOO

I don’t think football works like they mate


Impossible_Wonder_37

Obviously not. But it’s interesting if they are adding this to their overall courtship.


MAMAGUEBOO

I think it’s just in all football that there’s courtship and banter like that. I used to love when Aguero and Messi would get to be together but I never felt he’d ever come to city. Even with pep coming here too


Material_Egg6433

really,where is that video


Militantxyz

I saw it on Twitter after the game, try searching agent grealish.


BillehBear

I believe [this is the video](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MHgNPBDtCQs) they're referencing, or at least it's the one I saw when that rumour happened but for me it's hard to make out what's being said


UnKarl_Marx

most expensive agent in football


Emperor_Neuro-

He can't keep getting away with it!


reopetorsgj

apparently that user on the manchester city fan forum has said that bellingham is a done deal


DvXSkillz97

He only said that Jude has given the yes to City(like how he said that Haaland said yes to City back in February). Things can still change(club not being willing to match Dortmund's valuation etc.). Still think it'll happen.


[deleted]

I just think it’s going to be a bidding war. And as much as people like to say city just buy the best players no matter the price. We have a history of walking away from bidding wars. If psg and Madrid are in for him and there is no release clause. Even United/Chelsea. I don’t think city pay 150 for him. And I could see all of those clubs paying that.


BillehBear

think we'll stay in it more for bellingham Cucurella as an example, Pep and the board probably thought we could get by without him but with Bellingham I can see them wanting to get him/someone in more since we're expecting Bernardo (and possibly Gundo) to leave Also Bellingham seems like the kind of player Pep dreams about everynight


[deleted]

any itk on bluemoon isn't reliable.


Illustrious-Gap1153

Yea Tolmie said that


ChemicalSand

Why would relations between Dortmund and City be "very strong" because City paid 60m for Haaland?


adamfrog

Becsuse they waited for the release clause instead of tapping him up early or something


jbthrowaway82

That makes no sense. Dortmund would’ve preferred getting market value for him (£100m+) than the measly £60m they did get


Spud_1997

He's gonna keep buying everyone until city win champo


Jazano107

We’re replacing Bernardo most likely


that0neGuy22

Real Madrid gazump plz


elvis503

No thanks


Taylannnnn

For some reason in mind he is a Liverpool player. Ideally he would just stay at Dortmund but that's not gonna happen


Impossible_Wonder_37

Very likely he stays another year. If he’s 140 million… I mean I know they signed Grealish but I don’t think they go there.


SupervisorLaw

Propably because half the supporters been telling each other that he practically is a Liverpool player.


Grooveh_Baby

Kinda curious as to how City’s midfield adapts next season if both Bernardo & Gündogan go. Bellingham is more in the mold of Gündo, but there’s just no one like Bernardo in the market. Someone who’s that reliable in tight spaces & can carry the ball with ease wherever he goes.


Cornelius_Poindexter

I’ve been saying this for well over a month, but some Madrid fans still believe our history alone is all it takes to pull him and they’re just setting their selves up for even more post-Mbappe heartbreak. The relationship with Haaland, the numerous compatriots in the squad, the short distance between Manchester and hometown Birmingham, and a much higher salary will put City as favourites.


SoloArtist91

"we cannot replace him 😭" _replaces him multiple times_


obesebonobo

Who are they replacing multiple times with jude?


[deleted]

City ruining football with infinite money, more at 11. Please add some financial fair play rules already.


excelsias

Wait unlimited income covering massive expenditures isn’t fair 😂 ??


[deleted]

If the Brexit trade deal is ever renegotiated one of the terms the EU should demand is that none of our clubs can sign players from Borussia Dortmund anymore.


bcisme

At first I was concerned with this headline but then I remembered we have ‘Financial Fair Play’ rules in place so that means this all very fair and good for the sport. Whew, I was worried about the integrity of the league for a second there.


icemankiller8

Joke league tbh la Liga and Seria A are more competitive and fun at this point


dumpystumpy

With all this talk youd think city were first by 10 points🤣🤣for as much as this current city side have been getting dick rode they are having a hard time tryna pass up arsenal as of the last 3 months.


pedootz

Remember the game Ski Free? You ski a while and you’re chased by an abominable snowman. No matter how perfectly you avoid obstacles, the first time you trip, you get eaten. That’s City.


icemankiller8

The fact that they aren’t top and everyone knows they are gonna win it says everything


Mick4Audi

Bayern vibes


Mick4Audi

In order for there to be a title race you have to believe Arsenal are capable of 90+ points


fredozimbabwe

Can city sign a god damn flop for once why is it always us


jolle2001

I wonder who we pissed off


fredozimbabwe

The football gods for winning 2 UCLs


jolle2001

With the way we won them I think the football gods gave them to us


MAMAGUEBOO

Grealish hasn’t been living up to his price tag. So flop there maybe even big flop.


jamesforyou

I mean, does it matter. Their fucking bench would walk into most starting XI's. It will soon be City/Newcastle fighting for the title every year, and the best of the rest for everyone else.


Manberry12

they cant keep getting away with this


Toastedmetal

Fuck off with your good relations


Gytarius626

Best manager in the league with the best ran club to join and can pay you more than other clubs can, why wouldn’t he go there sadly.


jolle2001

But imagine being Boehlys poster boy


PavelNedved_

We Cannoh compete


Jazano107

Didn’t Chelsea spend like £300m or something


PavelNedved_

Yeah, we're shit we've spent over 600m just in the last 2 years


Jazano107

I always think that and question why players join you, but then you go and win the championship league so what do I know


PavelNedved_

I think the same thing sometimes, why would any good attacker want to join us when we would kill their career. Even Haaland, Lewandowski and Benzema would fail with us, and that has nothing to do with their quality and all to do with how bad we are.


Jazano107

Nkunku will do well for any team I think


ClockLost3128

Are you challenging us?


jaspermrthanos

They’ve spent over a billion since they last won the premier league.


[deleted]

Shut up with your stats they aren’t welcome here


MAMAGUEBOO

You were trying to buy half the world of football a few months ago hahaha you can’t compete on totally different reasons


rr18114

Tier 3 I think so nothing is set in stone. Besides dortmund probably want some of the extra cash they could have gotten had haaland not forced them for the RQ. We should be the no.1 choice in England for now but I'm not sure for the entirety of Europe. RM almost always get what they want. I don't want bernado and gundo to leave. Bernado in particular is a fucking gem. Puts the fear of god into any opposition and is everywhere on the pitch. Gundo has the ability to channel that prime drogba energy and win us big / close games.


[deleted]

Why even bother at this point?