‘Pep Guardiola came to me and spoke very sincerely’ – Eliaquim Mangala opens up on Man City exit

Eliaquim Mangala is currently a free agent after being released by AS Saint-Etienne this summer, but he’s holding out hope of landing himself a good move despite his career spiralling after leaving Manchester City.

Mangala was one of City’s expensive transfers when he signed from FC Porto, but the Sky Blues couldn’t find a suitor when they deemed him surplus to requirements.

He went on loans to Everton and Valencia whilst still with Manchester City, before signing permanently for the Spanish club in 2019.

He then signed a short term contract with Saint-Etienne in January 2022, and left in the summer. Now 31-years-of-age, Mangala is searching for a club as a free agent, and has discuss his disappointment at how things played out at Manchester City.

The defender is quoted by getfootballnewsfrance as saying: “The coach came to me and spoke very sincerely. He said, ‘There wasn’t any solution, and you’re here. You have a very specific profile, which in terms of my playing style, isn’t what I’m looking for.’ He spoke to me very honestly.”

“He continued, ‘But you’re here and we have four central defenders. We’re going to work together, you’ll be ready to play every match and we have lots, so you’ll have playing time – there are characteristics you possess and I need, that others don’t have.”

“You’re a very good player, it’s just the profile I’m looking for, for my style, you aren’t what I’m looking for.’ That was it. I don’t have any problem with that. I can’t be disappointed because the coach knows very what he wants.”

Looking back on his time at Man City, Mangala said: “When I look at it with hindsight, as a child who wanted to play at the highest level, I achieved it. I had the chance to spend time with Pep [Guardiola], which for me in my life was a key moment…”

“He showed me completely different things that I didn’t know about before, both in a sporting context and outside of that context.”

These Mangala’s comments shared on Twitter by City Xtra and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters – here is what they had to say.

“Wow this is very respectful by Pep”
Credit: @G3_OnTheRunWay

“I appreciate that. That’s a crazy great attitude he’s got. Most players see a problem with that but I can’t because not every coach is going to want you. Every coach has their own style and that’s okay”
Credit: @Rm2becaptcha

“He probably would have flourished under a manager like Mourinho.”
Credit: @w2heck

“Streets won’t forget that Chelsea game”
Credit: @MassiveMyattFT