Contract rebel Sane gives Guardiola plenty to ponder
LEROY SANE’S long-awaited return for Manchester City has given Pep Guardiola a selection dilemma ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.
Sane is fully fit after recovering from the serious knee ligament injury he suffered in the Community Shield in August and is pushing for a place to face Arsenal.
However, Sane’s commitment to City is being questioned because the Germany star has refused the club’s offer of a new contract and has just 12 months left on his existing deal.
The left winger is a long-term target for Bayern Munich and they wanted to sign him last summer before he suffered his knee injury.
That injury, coupled with the coronavirus crisis and his diminishing contract, has impacted on Sane’s value and he is now worth significantly less than the £140million City felt he could fetch 12 months ago.
Although the Premier League title has all but gone, City can still win another treble, with them being well placed in the Champions League and FA Cup, having already lfted the Carabao Cup in March.
Guardiola must now decide what part Sane should play. And former City midfielder Michael Brown feels picking Sane, 24, should be a no-brainer for the manager because of the attributes he brings to the team.
“He’s been a big miss for Manchester City,” said Brown.
“You see Raheem Sterling coming in off the lines from one side, you’ve seen Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva out in those wide areas, but what Leroy Sane gives you is that
pace, that power, that direction. He wants to push it past the full-back and get in the wide areas, getting crosses in, so he’s certainly been missed.
“I think he’ll be key for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola to give them another option in forward areas.”
Sane has been an attacking force for City and has managed an impressive 25 goals and 28 assists in 89 Premier League appearances. He played in an 11 v 11 game involving Guardiola’s squad at the Etihad at the end of last week and says his injury was the hardest he has had to overcome.
Sane said: “You have to push yourself every day because you know it’s a long rehab.
“But it was a good opportunity to work on weaknesses and that’s why I took it as a chance to recover well and come back strong.”