Manchester City have experienced a difficult season, but the pulling power remains.
With Pep Guardiola at the helm, many players across the globe would be inclined to join Manchester City, even before you take into account the transfer fees and salaries the Citizens can afford compared to others.
Therefore, this tough 2024/25 campaign should have little bearing on recruitment under Hugo Viana, with targets still aware of what Manchester City are capable of.
Tijjani Reijnders is one superstar tempted to join Manchester City despite this wobbly season, and another player in Rocco Reitz has now seemingly issued a come-and-get-me plea to Guardiola.
Rocco Reitz suggests he wants Manchester City move
Speaking to BILD, the Borussia Monchengladbach No.27 revealed his love for Guardiola, and admitted it would be hard to reject a move to Manchester City.
Reitz said: “I’m happy and will definitely play for Gladbach next season. There’s no reason to change now.
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“If Pep (Guardiola) calls, you probably cannot say no, but for something like that to happen, I first have to play a bit better.”
Photo by Christian Verheyen/Borussia Moenchengladbach via Getty Images
Photo by Christian Verheyen/Borussia Moenchengladbach via Getty Images
As it happens, Reitz is actually a target for Manchester City. Give Me Sport claimed that the Citizens wanted to sign the German in January, although Borussia Monchengladbach were reluctant to sell in the middle of the season.
The central midfielder has made 28 appearances in all competitions this term, scoring two goals and providing two assists.
Who is Rocco Reitz?
If Viana ends up bringing the Germany U21 international to Manchester City this summer, Guardiola would be getting a player likened to Michael Ballack.
⭐ 𝐀 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 ⭐
2️⃣ goals in 6️⃣ minutes = a Germany U21 debut to remember for Rocco Reitz 🙌💚 pic.twitter.com/wNrBLK49qV
— Gladbach (@borussia_en) November 18, 2023
It was actually the official Bundesliga website who made the comparison, writing that the 22-year-old “plays with an effortlessness that betrays a masterful understanding of the game” and is also “athletic, a fine passer and comfortable with the ball at his feet”.
This makes Reitz sound very much like a midfielder Guardiola would love to coach, so it will be interesting to see if a call is made by the Spaniard this summer amid the rumours.