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Spain international Nolito is reportedly eyeing a potential return home following an unfruitful first season with Manchester City.

The former Celta Vigo attacker joined the Citizens for &pound13.8m last summer after he got the chance to work with Catalan tactician Pep Guardiola.

Nolito made a bright start to his Citizens career with six goals and two assists in his first 10 outings, but he therein fell out of favour under Pep with Leroy Sane being preferred ahead of him in the pecking order.

The ex-Barcelona man had been restricted to just nine league starts over the course of the previous season, and he now hints that he could move on in order to reclaim his place with Spain for the 2018 World Cup, he told El Transistor: “I am under the contract, so the club will decide, but I want to leave. I haven’t played in six months. I will do everything possible to make Spain’s World Cup squad.

“I have learnt very, very little English – it’s very hard. Just ‘tomorrow’, ‘good morning’, ‘good afternoon’ and a little more. My daughter’s face has changed colour — it looks like she’s been living in a cave.” (more…)

Pep Guardiola believes that one of the primary objectives of him switching teams after every few years is the desire to have more and more idea of the game of Football.

As per Guardiola, if that desire to gain knowledge was not there, he would not have moved out of Barcelona. His tenure there was going like a dream and he could have glued himself to that position of Barcelona coach. The sword of axe was definitely not hanging over him.

But, he had to see other places, other leagues, different approaches, different conditions and that took him first to Germany and now to England where he is now coping with different ‘refereeing methods’ too as he pointed out in one of his latest press conferences. (more…)

Chelsea’s Diego Costa has recently sustained a thigh injury that has forced him to stay out of the latest training sessions of the Spanish national football team and this has compelled the head coach Julen Lopetegui on having to search for a replacement which is what the 50 year old Spanish tactician did as he recently called up Iago Aspas.

While Diego Costa is out injured and unable to perform, Julen Lopetegui opted to give Iago Aspas the chance to perform for the Spanish national side while Costa is unable to compete.
The 50 year old manager Julen Lopetegui has also recently talked about the possibility of calling up David Villa and give the veteran attacker the chance to come back to the international stage after having retired on 2014.

David Villa decided to retire from the international scene on 2014 after having scored 59 goals in 97 appearances but Julen Lopetegui has hinted out the possibility of making a surprise call up as Lopetegui appears to be closely monitoring David Villa in the MLS.

“The truth is that I saw him very well and playing with a lot of intensity. Villa continues to play at a very good level and in the future we will see if he can return. We don’t close the door to any player and we always have consideration for players that can help the national team. Villa is well, playing with a lot of rhythm, scoring lots of goals and showing a great attitude. He is a player who has done priceless things for Spanish football.” Spain’s Julen Lopetegui said.

David Villa is a 34 year old attacker who is currently performing for the MLS side, New York City FC and the Spanish player is a hugely influential player for the American outfit as he was the top goal-scorer of New York City FC after scoring 18 goals during the 2015-16 season and Villa has continued his impact with the club by netting 22 goals in 32 appearances.

Lucas Hernandez currently plays for the youth team of France, his birth country but is yet unsure of whether he would keep on representing them up till the senior level.

Hernandez, who plies his trade with Atletico Madrid at Club level as a defender has been embroiled in a tug of war over the right choice to make after Spain indicated their interest in him.

Hernandez was born in Marseille, France and had taken the decision to play for France youth side at first. With this move from Spain, he is unsure yet of what he really wants to do.

In an interview just recently, the 20 year old defender suggests that he would carefully go through his options before making a decision on whom to play for.

“That’s a personal decision. At the moment, I’m happy playing for the France U21 side, but the future depends on who I can play for.”

Hernandez hopes to feature in the Champions League game to be played on Wednesday against Rostov. He has still indicated yet that there is an intense competition in Diego Simeone’s squad.

“New players are contributing a lot and this is being seen on the pitch and in the performances,” he continued.
“And of course this year will hopefully be better than the past. (more…)