Frustrated Zabaleta hints at exit and end of era at Etihad Stadium

LONG-SERVING Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta has acknowledged he may leave the club this summer in what would represent the end of an era at the Etihad Stadium. Zabaleta, 32, may decide to take on a new challenge after nine years with City, even if Pep Guardiola offers him a new deal into next season. Zabaleta was one of the ‘Three Amigos’ with Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany and they are the last survivors from 2008, when Sheikh Mansour bought City and transformed them into a football superpower. Zabaleta, who scored in the midweek FA Cup win against Huddersfield, is one of several players who will sit down with Guardiola towards the end of the campaign. But the popular defender has made it clear he is going to look at all his options, with financial stability from a longer-term deal and regular first-team football both taken into consideration.

‘I know my contract expires at the end of the season. I am 32, not getting any younger, so I need to make sure my decision is the correct one,’ he said ahead of today’s match at Sunderland when City will try to stretch an eight-game unbeaten run to put pressure on leaders Chelsea.

‘I want to be honest with the club, myself and everyone,’ he said.

‘If I decide to stay, I will stay. If I will decide that it is time to move on, I will move on. Until then, I don’t want to talk too much about it because I am more focused on the season and trying to win something.’

City’s other long-serving players are also facing uncertainty. Hart is on loan to Torino and unlikely to be at City next season, while Kompany has been dogged by injuries for the last two years.

Zabaleta is pushing towards his 350th appearance for City but has become frustrated at starting only 10 of their 25 Premier League matches under Guardiola.

‘I am giving everything for the team as I have done for the last eight seasons,’ he said. ‘After ankle surgery I have been available to play every single game this season, not injured at all, apart from that kick in Barcelona that needed stitches in my foot. I have felt fantastic.’

Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo could lose his place to Willy Caballero tomorrow, having let a Huddersfield shot through his legs. But Zabaleta urged: ‘We know he is a great keeper and his distribution with his feet has been fantastic.’