Manchester City fan favourite linked with sensational Etihad Stadium return following 2020 exit

Manchester City fan favourite linked with sensational Etihad Stadium return following 2020 exit

Bayern Munich and Germany star Leroy Sane has been linked with a potential return to Manchester City this summer, four years after quitting the club for the Bundesliga.

The 28-year-old left Manchester City for Bayern Munich in a £54.8 million move in July 2020, leaving the Etihad Stadium after four years, having initially moved to the Premier League for £37 million from Schalke.

The forward made 135 appearances and won seven trophies with the Sky Blues, but featured just twice during his final campaign at Manchester City after suffering an ACL injury against Liverpool in the FA Community Shield.

Sane scored 39 goals and helped Pep Guardiola’s side to two Premier League titles, memorably scoring the winning goal against Liverpool in a crucial 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium in January 2019.

The German international made his Manchester City debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford in September 2016, and also featured against the Blues in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals last season.

Sane has been directly involved in 19 goals in 25 Bundesliga appearances so far this season, and has also featured in eight Champions League matches for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

The winger is out of contract at the Allianz Arena in 2025, and is one of several players linked with a potential summer exit from Bavaria.

According to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, the 28-year-old is interested in a potential return to the Etihad Stadium this summer, with the forward wanting to ‘come home’ after four years in Germany.

The forward is the third Bayern Munich star to be linked with a move to east Manchester ahead of the new season, with both Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala widely reported as possible targets.

Manchester City are expected to bolster their squad again this summer, with the both Bernardo Silva and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega linked with possible exits from the club.

The 2024/25 campaign is also currently set to be Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne’s last with the club, with both out of contract at the end of next season.

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‘I do not know him’ – Four players that turned on Jurgen Klopp after leaving Liverpool
In Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s profession, it is seemingly impossible to remain friends with absolutely everyone that walks through the door

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ByJames QuinlanSport Trends Writer
20:00, 24 MAR 2024
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Mario Balotelli of Liverpool walks on the pitch
Mario Balotelli of Liverpool walks on the pitch prior to the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool at The Hawthorns on April 25, 2015 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
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Jurgen Klopp is a manager that many throughout the sport either sing the praises of having worked with him, or long for the opportunity to share a dressing room at some stage in their careers.

Though that cannot always be the case. To be the best, one has he be ruthless, so doing what is necessary to put his club in prime position to win has been a necessity in Klopp’s quest to rebuild the club.

It has been that way ever since inheriting the squad passed onto him following Brendan Rodgers’ departure, right through to present day with players that he brought to the club.

READ MORE: What frustrated Fernando Torres did after scoring reveals true feelings about Liverpool

READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez, Stefan Bajcetic – Liverpool injury news and return dates

And that, unfortunately, has sometimes led to the German creating enemies of sorts. Here the ECHO explores the few Liverpool players that have spoken out about their former manager once stepping away from Anfield:

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Jordan Henderson
The former captain of the club will always be remembered fondly. He may not possessed the prestige of English midfielders in the generation before him, but you don’t lift eight trophies for a club – seven of those as captain – without creating a legendary status for yourself.

But when matters took a turn for the worse in the 2022/23 campaign and it became apparent that the previously strong base of the Reds’ midfield were no longer able to sustain the intensity levels required to qualify for the Champions League, something had to be done.

Last summer saw the biggest revamp of one area of the squad in the Klopp era, with four midfielders arriving whilst Henderson was one of five members of the engine room to depart. The 33-year-old made the controversial £12m switch to the Saudi Pro League, signing for Al-Ettifaq, managed by Steven Gerrard.

That move didn’t work out in the slightest and he has since returned to Europe to play for AFC Ajax, though not before revealing his thoughts on his Anfield exit.

Last November, Henderson stated that whilst he has not fallen out with Klopp, he disappointingly felt unwanted by his former coach and club staff.

“There were a few things that sent alarm bells ringing,” the England international revealed. “I’ve got a very good relationship with Jurgen. He was very honest with me. I won’t go into detail about the conversation because it’s private, but it put me in a position where I knew that I wasn’t going to be playing as much. I knew there were going to be new players coming in my position.

“And if I’m not playing, as anybody will know, especially the manager, that can be quite difficult for me and especially when I’ve been at a club for so long, I’ve captained the team for so long. Especially when England’s a big thing for me. You’ve got the Euros coming up.

“Then there was an approach from Ettifaq to the club to see if it would be possible for me to go there. The reaction from the club again wasn’t to say no. At that moment, I felt as though my value or the want for me to stay, with the manager and within the club, maybe it had shifted.

“Now, that’s not to say that they forced me out of the club or they were saying they wanted me to leave but at no point did I feel wanted by the club or anyone to stay. If one of those people said to me, ‘Now we want you to stay’, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

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Mamadou Sakho
On the other hand, Klopp has experienced some true falling out with members of his Reds squad. Looking back at the formative years, the major incident came involving Mamadou Sakho.

The former Paris-Saint Germain captain had established himself in the starting XI prior to his new manager’s arrival, and even scored a crucial header to help overcome Klopp’s former club Borussia Dortmund in a memorable Europa League quarter-final during their first campaign together.

That 2015/16 season ended with the Frenchman being investigated by UEFA for allegedly violating a doping rule, though he returned in time for the following pre-season. The consequences ended up disastrous as Sakho’s disruptive behaviour led to his early flight home from the club’s United States tour.

“I have to build a group here, we have to start new here,” Klopp said on the eve of his first full season in charge. “So I thought maybe it made sense for him to fly home to Liverpool and after eight or 10 days when we come back we can talk about it. It’s not that serious.

“He nearly missed the departure of the plane, he missed a session and was late for a meal. We have some rules and we have to respect them. If somebody doesn’t respect it or somebody gives me the feeling he is not respecting it then I have to react that’s all.”

Though the boss’ dismissal of events were clearly not representative of the bigger picture as Sakho remained in exile upon the campaign’s start. He was training with the Under-23 squad whilst rejecting interest from Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion, and eventually hit out at his treatment in a rant posted to his Snapchat at 3.00am.

“Now it’s three weeks I am fit to play games. They don’t want me to play with segonde (U23s) team lol,” the defender wrote. “Still working hard like Scouse Soldier! Still not talking cos I want to speak on the pitch…. I will speak soon for the people who support me and don’t understand the situation.

“Still happy to live in my Liverpool Country with my family, hope to have chance to play soon to give my best like I try to always do! I accept my situation but I can’t accept the lie…. the fans deserve to know the true! Thanks for your support six months stay quiet. Have good night everybody! You’ll never walk alone!”

Sakho never played for Liverpool again, with the club recouping £26m in total from his sale to Crystal Palace. He stayed with the Eagles for four years before joining Montpellier for free, where last year he had an altercation with coach Michel Der Zakarian. The 34-year-old was labelled a ‘cry-baby’ and subsequently left the club.

Mario Balotelli
Mario Balotelli never so much received a look in once Klopp joined Liverpool as manager. The striker who managed only four goals in all competitions during his one-year stint in the first team and had made a controversial name for himself was out on loan in the 2015/16 season, and upon his return was deemed surplus to requirements.

“He’s not at the stage of his career where he should be battling with four or five other players for one or two positions,” Klopp said in pre-season. “We want Mario to become the player he was before his injury. The talent is still there – no doubt about it. When we have done the crossing, heading and stuff (in training), he’s been world class.

“But this is not a situation where he should be battling with other players like this for one position so it’s clear we need a solution.”

The Italian wasn’t involved in the United States tour that summer, then was allowed to join AC Milan on a free transfer on deadline day. After that Klopp was not an entirely popular figure with the player’s agent Mino Raiola, who branded the manager “a piece of s***” over the situation.

Balotelli himself later added: “Klopp does not know me and I do not know him. I was back in Liverpool a month and a half and I spoke to him once.

“He explained to me that I could stay there but I was not his first choice and he told me it was better if I went somewhere else. If I got games, did well, I could come back but I said goodbye and thank you, and that we wouldn’t be seeing each other again.”

Lazar Markovic
Again, it was a case of a player that Klopp inherited – one that had been underperforming under Brendan Rodgers compared to the price tag he initially commanded.

Lazar Markovic had been on loan to Fenerbahce when the German was named as manager in October 2015, and after the player returned the following year he was subject to further loans to Sporting CP and Hull City. Eventually in 2017, it was confirmed that he was free to leave Merseyside for good.

This still didn’t work out and after six months with the Under-23s, the Serbian eventually secured a January loan to Anderlecht. Whilst there he slammed his parent club’s handling of his situation over the previous years.

“It’s to show that I’m still the same player, to show the people at Liverpool that they can’t treat me that way,” he told Belgian newspaper DH. “Yes, it’s okay to take it personally when you are not let go because they’re asking for an unrealistic transfer amount.”

Finally in 2019 he was able to join Fulham on a free transfer, one that Klopp expressed his pleasure to see happen.

“For him, it’s brilliant. I can imagine it was unbelievably difficult for him,” he said. “It was not too easy for me – that’s not too important – having a player like him in the wider squad and not using him.

“But it was clear, Lazar knew for a long time how our plans are, and for different reasons transfers didn’t work out. We were not responsible for that. Now he can go to Fulham and use and show his potential again, which I’m happy for. Hopefully it will work out for him.”

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Liverpool legend missing from Anfield match could be set for huge role in club’s future
Liverpool legends were back in force at Anfield – but one man was conspicuous by his absence

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ByTheo SquiresLiverpool FC Writer
05:00, 25 MAR 2024
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Liverpool legends line up before the LFC Foundation charity match between Liverpool FC Legends and AFC Ajax Legends at Anfield on March 23, 2024 (Image: Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Fernando Torres was the star attraction as he made a belated Liverpool Legends debut in Saturday’s 4-2 win over Ajax.

The Spaniard had originally been scheduled to play in the 2020 iteration of the annual charity match against Barcelona, only for it to be postponed because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, supporters have had to wait a further four years to see ‘El Nino’ make his Anfield return.

Pulling on the famous Reds jersey at Anfield for the first time in over 13 years, the 40-year-old marked the occasion in style as he gave the crowd what they came for by scoring the Legends’ fourth goal late on in front of the Kop. It wasn’t pretty, scrambling home Mark Gonzalez’s low cross from close-range, but neither player nor fanbase cared, seeing as it seemed that a goal would remain elusive for the striker after he missed chance after chance throughout the afternoon.

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He would admit after the game that one point he feared such a goal would not come, before suggesting he would like to return to Anfield again in next year’s Legends match.

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“I always have the hope to do it (score),” he said. ”These things take time, scoring for Liverpool is a big thing.

“I tried many times, I couldn’t do it. I did in the end and I was happy. I just wanted to score in my first Liverpool game after many years. I did it!

“It’s the first time I’ve been back since I finished football five years ago. I’m not fit, trust me. I’ll do my best to train every day and come again next season, and come back a little bit better.”

Of course, such a return will depend on Torres’ coaching commitments with the striker now enjoying his third season in charge of Atletico Madrid Under-19s.

“It’s the first time I can come because normally I am coaching and cannot find the time so I was really looking forward to it,” he admitted over the course of the weekend. “I’ve been lucky enough to be invited many times from the foundation to play that match.

“But for different reasons, I couldn’t go. And now that I’m coaching, it’s more difficult to find gaps in the calendar to be able to go. I could manage to go this time.”

Of course, he isn’t the only former Red now in management, with such commitments often dictating whether they can participate for the Legends or not.

Gregory Vignal, Igor Biscan, Daniel Agger, and Sami Hyypia have all managed in the past but are currently unemployed, though the Dane did return to face Barcelona in 2022 during his managerial stint with HB Koge.

Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt also both played, with the pair currently in charge of Al-Ettifaq and Beerschot respectively.

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Gerrard is a Legends regular, of course, and has played for Liverpool’s veterans while in charge of both Rangers and Aston Villa. However, he sat out both 2022 editions of the game against Manchester United, with the Anfield leg in September coming at a time when the Villains were struggling in the Premier League table.

He would be sacked barely a month later, before, when unemployed, returning to score in the 2023 annual legends match against Celtic the following March.

It was in stark contrast to when he featured for both the Reds and Rangers at Ibrox in October 2019, at a time when he was considered one of the favourites to be the next Liverpool manager when the time comes. Such talk has now all but evaporated, following his Villa sacking and move to Saudi Arabia, with another club legend instead emerging in his place.

All but one of the Legends’ starting XI against Ajax (Bjorn Tore Kvarme) played for Rafa Benitez during their Liverpool careers. Even looking at the bench, only Sander Westerveld, Vignal and Jari Litmanen pre-dated the Spaniard.

As a result, the bulk of Benitez’s ‘all-star squad’, that most memorably nearly won the Premier League in 2009, were in action against the Dutch giants on Saturday, including Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt, Agger, Hyypia, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, and Ryan Babel.

There were some well-loved absentees too though, of course. Jamie Carragher hasn’t played for Liverpool Legends at Anfield since March 2022, when they lost 2-1 to Barcelona, while Lucas Leiva understandably hasn’t featured since retiring last year because of a heart condition.

Pepe Reina is still an active player of course, playing for Villarreal at 41 years of age, while Javier Mascherano is never going to be able to return while in his current position as Argentina Under-20s manager. And despite being named in the 2022 squad to face Manchester United, Alvaro Arbeloa missed that match and is yet to make his Legends debut as he continues to manage Real Madrid’s youth sides.

But there was one other legend who was most