Pep Guardiola is playing it coy about John Stones’ future at Manchester City, telling us that the club will ultimately make the best decision. As the current contract for the talented defender edges toward its expiration at the end of the season, fans are left wondering what’s next for the player who’s made quite a mark since joining the team.
John Stones, the English defender who made his move to City from Everton back in the summer of 2016, is now in the midst of his tenth season. Can you believe it? Over 280 appearances for the club! This guy has really become a staple of the squad, enjoying incredible success along the way. We’re talking six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and even a Champions League trophy. Pretty impressive for a player who started as a promising talent.
Now, let’s talk about this season. The 31-year-old has already made six appearances, including three starts in the Premier League. However, there’s no guarantee he’ll get that much-anticipated contract extension at the Etihad Stadium. A bit of a nail-biter, isn’t it?
### What Pep Guardiola Has to Say
Guardiola has been quite transparent about the situation. Last season was tough for Stones; he made just 11 appearances in the Premier League and spent the final three months sidelined with a hamstring injury. Sitting on the bench against Everton in recent matches has raised some eyebrows too. It’s clear Guardiola is concerned about the defender’s consistency and fitness.
“Don’t ask me about that,” Guardiola remarked when pressed on Stones’ future. “The club will decide what is best for John, and we’ll see how he performs.” It seems pretty evident that while Guardiola recognizes Stones’ talent, those injury woes could play a significant role in deciding if he’ll stay on with the team.
“When John is fit, he’s part of the starting XI,” Guardiola acknowledged, adding that the inconsistency in games has made things trickier. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.
### Will City Offer Stones a New Deal?
Here’s the kicker: Stones has even admitted at times that he considered retiring early due to those chronic injuries. But don’t count him out just yet! There’s still plenty of football left in him at the highest level. Despite the challenges at City, it’s worth noting that he recently played a solid 80 minutes for England in their 3-0 win against Wales, followed by over 70 minutes in a 5-0 rout against Latvia. Clearly, he’s still got it!
Now, Manchester City is known for taking a no-nonsense approach, especially after letting Kevin De Bruyne walk on a free transfer this summer. They’re keen on keeping players who can reliably perform week in and week out. With that in mind, it’ll be interesting to see if Stones’ situation mirrors De Bruyne’s, given his recent struggles.
So, as we sip our coffee and ponder what’s next for John Stones at Manchester City, one thing is clear: the future is yet to be written, and all eyes will be on how he performs in the upcoming matches. Will he get that new contract? Only time will tell!
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