South Africa ‘great legend’ Masinga dies
Desperate Guardiola in hunt for ‘new’ Fernandinho
quality of the players,” said Guardiola.
“Maybe there aren’t many, but there are players who can play in that role.”
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss added: “Specifically with Fernandinho’s role, it’s so difficult to find. He knows the Premier League, after three years together here, he knows everything and that’s so important.
“But, of course, for the next season it’s an important target to find. He’ll be 34 and he cannot play every few days.”
There have been reports in British newspapers suggesting Wolves’ Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves may be a long-term replacement for Fernandinho, although their roles are slightly different. Neves tends to play as one of two holding midfielders, whereas Fernandinho performs that role on his own in the City line-up.
“Ruben Neves is an excellent player,” said Guardiola.
“The system at Wolves involves playing with two holding midfielders, not just one. But he’s an excellent player.
“There are many clubs in the world, many holding midfielders in the world, and most of them can play here. That’s not the point. The point is that most of them are under contracts.”
But Guardiola insisted, for all City’s wealth, there were limits to even their transfer budget.
“A month ago, I started reading: ‘Ruben Neves, £100 million (RM526 million)’. That is not going to happen. We are not going to pay £100 million for a holding midfielder.
“Of course, all departments in the club, we have in every position four or five or six options (potential targets) — depending on age, what we believe and, of course, the price.”
Despite the likelihood of losing out on De Jong, Guardiola has no qualms over the work being done by City director of football Txiki Begiristain and his team to bring in top-class players.
“I would say they are incredible, top at what they are doing. It looks simple but it’s not simple. It looks easy but it’s not easy,” said Guardiola.
“I am in touch quite often with Txiki, especially, because he is close to my door. I know exactly what they do, with the (City) academy, with the first team and they are doing it really well.”
“But sometimes it doesn’t depend on us,” said the Catalan manager.
“You have to pay the club, pay the family and talk with the players, and with the agents, it’s nuts. It’s complicated, so, so complicated.” JOHANNESBURG: Former South Africa star Philemon ‘Chippa’ Masinga died Sunday aged 49 in a Johannesburg hospital from cancer, the national football association said in a statement.
Retired South Africa captain Lucas Radebe, who played with Masinga at then English topflight club Leeds United in the 1990s, said the country has lost a “great legend.”
“For us as Africans it was a great experience,” Radebe told the BBC. “We were not used to the weather and we struggled a little bit — we kept each other warm at times.
“Phil was a big hit with the team and the players. I looked up to him and
I think he inspired me the most. It was absolutely great the way he adapted to the situation.
“He was easy to get along with and he was most respected at the club as a person.”
Football association president Danny Jordaan said: “We have lost a giant of South African football. This is a sad day and I am gutted.”
Former Leeds teammate Noel Whelan tweeted: “Really sad news to learn that a guy I spent so much time with, laughs and games together, has passed away.
“He was not just a friend and strike partner but one of the nicest, kindest guys I’ve met, was a pleasure and privilege to have known and played with you Phil.”
A physically formidable forward, he scored the goal that beat Congo Brazzaville 1-0 in Soweto and took Bafana Bafana (The Boys) to the 1998 World Cup in France.
Masinga was part of the South African ‘golden generation’ that won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations just four years after an apartheid-induced international ban was lifted.
He played for local clubs Jomo Cosmos and Mamelodi Sundowns before moving abroad in 1994 to join Leeds.
Masinga also played for St Gallen in Switzerland, Salernitana and Bari in Italy and Al Wahda in the United Arab Emirates.
The attacker scored 18 goals in 58 international appearances between 1992 and 2001.