MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 16:58:22| >> :60:123:123:

Man City transfer news: Sporting star drops hint about wanting to play for Pep Guardiola

© Imago
Sporting Lisbon wing-back Maximiliano Araujo reveals he could be open to a move to Manchester City to play under Pep Guardiola.

Sporting Lisbon wing-back Maximiliano Araujo has hinted that he hopes to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in the near future.

Araujo was part of the Sporting side that comprehensively beat Guardiola's Man City side 4-1 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the Champions League last week.

The 24-year-old scored the goal that put Sporting ahead early in the second half, in what was Ruben Amorim's penultimate game in charge, before now moving to City's rivals Manchester United.

Araujo has only been at the club for just over two months, after being a late signing in the summer transfer window, joining from Toluca in a deal worth €13.6m (£11.25m).

The versatile player has already become a regular in the side, often being utilised as a left wing-back, but he has also proven capable of playing as an outright winger in the absence of Pedro Goncalves.

Already a full Uruguayan international, Araujo has also featured in a central striking role on occasion in recent games for La Celeste, and has three international goals since making his debut last year.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on November 5, 2024© Imago

Araujo keen on Premier League move?

After joining up with the Uruguay squad for the upcoming international break, Araujo was asked by reporters in a press conference about the win over Man City, and how it felt to beat a team assembled by Guardiola.

Initially, Araujo gave a rather tongue-in-cheek response to being asked whether he would like to play for Man City under Guardiola.

With a wry smile, Araujo responded: "I hope so, I hope so..."

The player then seemed to downplay the comments, as he continued: "I asked him [Guardiola] for a photo, we talked for a few minutes and he congratulated me. I'm very happy about that. We talked about the game, nothing more."

Fire sale to come at Sporting?

Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring a hat-trick for Sporting Lisbon on November 5, 2024© Imago

Araujo was not the only player who caught the eye in Sporting's impressive win over the Premier League champions last week, and some of their league-winning squad from last season may be getting more attention now after starring on the continent.

Viktor Gyokeres is the most-talked-about striker in Europe at the moment, and his hat trick against Man City has only seen his stocks skyrocket further, with 27 goals for club and country already this season.

On the opposite flank to Araujo, teenager Geovany Quenda also impressed at wing-back, and has already received a call up to the senior Portugal squad at just 17 years of age.

Just ahead of the Uruguayan on the left, Goncalves played an integral part in the second goal, showing fine footwork before setting up Araujo to finish, and he was the man who netted an astonishing goal from the halfway line at the Emirates in the Europa League 18 months ago, while continuing to hit double figures for both goals and assists each season.

Sporting will return to action in their first game following the departure of Amorim when they face fourth-tier Amarante in the Taca de Portugal on the first Friday back after the international break.

ID:558058:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5297:
Written by
Andrew Delaney

Click here for more stories about Maximiliano Araujo

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Osumane Diomande of Sporting Lisbon on October 26, 2023
Read Next:
Premier League battle: Arsenal 'in competition' with Man United for Sporting star
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!