MANCHESTER CITY’S top bosses are not resting on their laurels after securing Premier League glory this week, and are already heading to Abu Dhabi to draft ‘battle plans’ in preparation for next season.
The decision-makers for the ‘Blues’, who were recently crowned English Premier League champions with their 2-0 win over West Ham, will be making a short stop in the capital to discuss player recruitment in the summer transfer window and contract renewals.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini will be joined by senior figures including Ferran Soriano, Txiki Begiristain, Khaldoon Al Mubarak and owner HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to talk strategy as the club seeks to maintain their lofty position in the top English league.
The club is expected to make a move for Porto duo Eliaquim Mangala, a centre back, and defensive midfielder Fernando and possibly Athletic Bilbao’s star winger Iker Muniain.
However, the club is facing punishment from governing body UEFA over breaches of the Financial Fair Play rules, which may jeopardise any moves in the transfer market, as well as hitting the club with a huge £49 million (AED 303 million) fine.
The management’s stopover comes at a time when Man City fever is running high in the capital with the club playing a friendly against Al Ain Football Club aswell as holding a training session at Al Jazira Football Club’s stadium.
Captain Vincent Kompany said: “Ending our season in Abu Dhabi is the perfect way to celebrate our double trophy win. I speak for the whole squad when I say how excited we are to visit the fans who fought right to the end with us. It really has become a home from home for City and we can’t wait to share the title winning experience with all those that supported us.”
