Joe Hart joins Torino from Manchester City on a season-long loan

Joe Hart has delivered a heartfelt parting message to Manchester City fans as he begins a new chapter of his career in Italy after joining Torino on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day.

Hart saw his starting place at the Etihad Stadium go to Willy Caballero in the opening few weeks of the new campaign, followed by Claudio Bravo's £17m arrival from Barcelona.

But the 29-year-old, who first arrived in Manchester as a teenager from Shrewsbury Town, is keen to show his gratitude for the support he has received from fans over the years, and particularly in recent weeks when it became clear his time was drawing to a close.

"I just wanted to take this opportunity to address all the amazing Manchester City fans who have been so good to me," Hart said on Wednesday night as he took to Facebook.

"It's been a difficult few weeks but that will never cloud the amazing journey and experience your great club has given to me. From the moment I signed in 2006, the club and its fans have given me football and life experiences I could never have imagined and I am so thankful for that.

"Football is a crazy game and, due to circumstances, I am now moving on to another chapter of my career and I am very grateful that Torino has given me this opportunity to play for their great club.

"But the feelings I felt during the recent Steaua Bucharest game will live with me forever. You can't buy that and I will struggle to replicate them. So thank you for that and all the amazing memories.

"There are many great people at the club behind the scenes and the club is moving in the right direction, so I would like to wish Manchester City football club, all its staff and players and of course the fans, all the best for the coming season and beyond."

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Nigeria duo of Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho scores as Arsenal defeats Manchester City

Super Eagles duo of Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho were on the score-sheet as Manchester City lost 3-2 to English Premier League rivals Arsenal ‎in a club friendly  played at the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Manchester City took the lead through Argentina hitman Sergio Aguero to give Pep Guardiola’s side the lead. Arsenal however responded with three goals after the interval courtesy goals from Super Eagles player Alex Iwobi, substitute Theo Walcott and Nigeria-born English youngster substitute Chuba Akpom, who came on in the 78th minute for Chile star, Alexis Sanchez.

Iheanacho pulled one back for his side with four minutes from time to put the scores back at 3-2, but it was too late for the Citizens to get the equalizer, as both sides ended their pre-season campaign in contrasting fashion.

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5 Things Manchester City Fans Need to Know About Latest New Signing Gabriel Jesus

5 Things Manchester City Fans Need to Know About Latest New Signing Gabriel Jesus

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Manchester City Complete Signing of Brazilian Wonderkid Gabriel Jesus

Manchester City Complete Signing of Brazilian Wonderkid Gabriel Jesus

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Dietmar Hamann: 'Leroy Sane arrival means bad news for Raheem Sterling'

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has claimed that Raheem Sterling's future at Manchester City could be in further doubt following the arrival of Leroy Sane.

The Germany international signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday morning to put an end to the long-running transfer saga.

Sane is likely to take up an attacking midfield position at City this coming season, providing direct competition for Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva and Sterling.

Hamann believes that the England man is the one under the biggest threat of losing his place in the side, having struggled to make any real impact during his first campaign at the club.

"If you look at the forward line they will probably play with one up top which will be [Sergio] Aguero. Behind you've got David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne who, when he is fit, will play," he told Sky Sports News.

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"Then I think he'll probably come up against Raheem Sterling and, I've got to say, Raheem Sterling has pretty much stalled since he went to Manchester City. He's never showed the promise he showed at Liverpool earlier in his career, so I think Sterling will be the one who needs to pick it up.

"I think he will improve under Pep Guardiola - Leroy Sane said it himself - the biggest pull for him to come to Manchester City was to work with a manager who he knows will improve him."

Sane is City's third signing of the Guardiola era, with Nolito and Ilkay Gundogan also joining this summer.

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Kelechi Iheanacho and Sergio Aguero shine as Manchester City beat Borussia Dortmund

Manchester City recorded a 6-5 penalty-shootout victory over Borussia Dortmund after the two teams had played out a 1-1 draw in the International Champions Cup in Shenzhen on Thursday night.

Sergio Aguero looked to have won the match for the Premier League club in the 79th minute, but Christian Pulisic equalised in the sixth minute of stoppage time to force penalties to decide the outcome of the contest.

Raheem Sterling missed Man City's seventh spot kick to hand the advantage to Dortmund, but Jacob Larsen and Mikel Merino were then both denied by substitute goalkeeper Angus Gunn as Pep Guardiola's side secured the win.

A more experienced XI took to the field for Man City, with Nicolas Otamendi, Fabian Delph and Gael Clichy among those returning to a squad that lost their first pre-season game to Bayern Munich on July 20. As for Dortmund, head coach Thomas Tuchel made six changes to the team that beat Manchester United last time out.

A lively opening five minutes saw both teams have shooting opportunities, but Kelechi Iheanacho fired wide of the post for the Citizens, before Ousmane Dembele had a rasping strike blocked by Nicolas Otamendi after a Willy Caballero mistake.

A loose kick from Caballero then presented Emre Mor with a shooting chance, but the young Turk curled his effort wide of the post, before Delph missed the target down the other end after a smart cross from Jesus Navas, all inside 10 minutes.

Careless defending from Man City allowed Dortmund another shooting chance in the 18th minute, but Dembele missed the target from outside the box as it remained goalless after an entertaining opening to the pre-season clash in Shenzhen.

The next opportunity of note came for Dortmund in the 35th minute when Mor drove away from the Man City midfield before setting up Marcel Schmelzer, who returned the favour, but the youngster fired straight at Caballero.

Iheanacho then had a super chance for Man City in first-half stoppage time after the ball fell for the young striker some five yards from goal, but Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki was on hand to make an excellent save.

Both managers made sweeping changes at the interval and among those entering the field for Man City were Aguero, David Silva and Yaya Toure as Guardiola brought on his big-hitters for the second 45 minutes.

Neither team created a chance of note in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, however, with the raft of substitutions seemingly harming the tempo from the first period, which created an entertaining and open contest.

Wilfried Bony had the first shot on target in the second period just past the hour, but the Ivory Coast international, who has been linked with a move away from the Etihad, could only find the palms of Burki.

Bony again came close in the 67th minute after turning away from two Dortmund defenders and looking for the top corner, but the striker's effort missed the crossbar as it remained goalless entering the final 20 minutes of action.

The best chance of the match fell to Dortmund 15 minutes from time when Gonzalo Castro broke through into a one-on-one with substitute Man City goalkeeper Gunn, but the youngster made a brilliant save.

It was Man City that made the breakthrough in the 79th minute, however, when Aguero tapped home a low cross from Silva to send the English side 1-0 ahead in Shenzhen.

There were also late appearances for Nolito and Sterling as Guardiola had the first proper look at his squad, which could include John Stones and Leroy Sane at the start of the new Premier League season.

Dortmund had not finished though and levelled in the sixth minute of additional time when American teenager Pulisic found a route through the legs of Gunn to force a penalty shootout, which Man City won 6-5 to claim the bragging rights.

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Iheacho chooses Manchester City over Nigeria

Kelechi Iheanacho will not feature at the Rio Olympics in August after he chose to stay back for pre-season with his English club Manchester City, according to media reports.

Iheanacho, 19,has been caught up in a club versus country row, but he has now opted to go with his club after he fully understood the need to show new manager Pep Guardiola what he is capable of, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Guardiola starts at City on July 1 and he has made it clear every available player must be part of pre-season.

Added pressure for youngster Iheanacho is that the talk of City signing a high-profile striker has not gone away with Leroy Sane and Nolito still linked with the big-spending Premier League outfit.

Media reports suggested City have spoken extensively to the Nigeria starlet, who understands why he has miss out on the trip to Brazil with his country. 

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Kelechi Iheanacho may miss Olympics games

Nigeria Olympic team coach Samson Siasia has revealed he is yet to receive approval from Manchester City for Kelechi Iheanacho to feature at the Rio Olympics in August. An unhappy Siasia said City are yet to respond to several emails from the Nigeria football federation demanding for the release of the youngster for the summer games in Brazil. 

“The Nigeria Football Federation has written several letters to them (Manchester City) wanting to know when the player would be released for the Games in Brazil, but as I speak with you the club has not replied," Siasia told the Manchester Evening News.

“So for now I cannot confidently tell you that Iheanacho would be available for the Olympics, although we are not relenting on the issue as the NFF is fighting tooth and nail to ensure we have our best players for the Olympics." 

Siasia further said Iheanacho himself wants to play in Rio. “Kelechi told me he is anxious to play in the Olympics and I am sure with much pressure the boy would be released eventually,” he said. “But for now I cannot tell you he will be in the Olympics.”

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MAN CITY TO UNVEIL GUARDIOLA’S FIRST SIGNING ON THURSDAY, £21M DEAL

Manchester City are set to make their first signing of the Pep Guardiola era today according to The Daily Mail, with the English club close to concluding a £21 million deal for midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.

The Etihad Stadium outfit are set for a spring clean as the Catalan coach replaces Manuel Pellegrini in the hotseat, with a host of new players expected to follow the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich trainer to the club.

Gundogan has proven himself as an exemplary deep-lying playmaker for a successful Borussia Dortmund side and has also established himself in the Germany national team.

However, the craftsman has struggled with injuries in recent years, missing the World Cup two years ago and set to sit out Euro 2016 also.

Gundogan’s arrival is expected to shake up City’s midfield, with talk that Yaya Toure could be on his way out of the Manchester club as a result.

Toure recently rejected a massive deal to move to the Chinese league.

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FINAL DAY HALF TIME REPORT: Ihenacho strikes as Man City draw.

Manchester City all-but sealed a top four finish and Champions League qualification after a Kelechi Iheanacho goal secured a 1-1 draw against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium. 

Only a massive swing in goal difference in Manchester United’s favour in their rearranged fixture against Bournemouth can now deny City and their incoming manager Pep Guardiola fourth place – and with it a berth in the qualifiers for Europe’s premier club competition.

News that United’s game had been delayed and subsequently abandoned after a suspect package was found inside Old Trafford filtered down to south Wales before kick-off, meaning City just had to focus on their own job.

They are now all-but certain of achieving their objective after Kelechi Iheanacho’s early strike, which was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time by Andre Ayew’s deflected free-kick.

However, City’s failings this season – they were touted as favourites for the Premier League title before a ball was kicked last August – were summed up in 90 frustrating minutes when they somehow failed to put Swansea to the sword.

It was the Swans’ first game since Francesco Guidolin signed a two-year deal and they were in good form at home with four successive wins, their best run in five seasons of Premier League football.

But United’s hope for some assistance was not helped by Swansea resting their four Euro 2016 players ahead of next month’s tournament, and midfielder Ki Sung-yeung having returned to his native South Korea for four weeks of military service.

City had the perfect start after five minutes through Iheanacho’s 14th goal of the season, even if there was an element of confusion about it.

Stand-in Swansea goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt pushed out Sergio Aguero’s shot and Iheanacho appeared to be in an offside position when he pocketed the rebound.

But referee Mike Dean overruled his flagging assistant as Angel Rangel was still on the field of play to the right of the goal after his attempt to stop the initial cross.

Swansea were not so fortunate five minutes later when Dean adjudged that Jefferson Montero pushed Bacary Sagna at the far post before squirting the ball past Joe Hart.

It was a debatable decision, and one which City should have benefited from to build on their advantage.

But Nordfeldt saved from Kevin De Bruyne and Aguero and Swansea escaped again when Montero’s misplaced back-pass presented Iheanacho with a shooting opportunity he wasted.

Jesus Navas was also guilty of spurning a speedy counter-attack and City were punished for their profligacy on the stroke of half-time when Nicolas Otamendi brought down Leon Britton 25 yards out.

Ayew took over free-kick duties in the absence of usual taker Gylfi Sigurdsson and his effort struck the head of Fernando to change the direction of the ball and leave Hart stranded.

The second half started much as the first had been conducted with City on top but lacking a ruthless edge to their game.

Iheanacho was unable to control the ball with the goal at his mercy, and Aguero fired badly wide as he failed to draw level in the race for the Golden Boot with Tottenham’s Harry Kane.

Federico Fernandez headed wide from a corner, but Swansea were not to threaten again and City’s race with United was effectively won.

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THIS WILL NOT BE MY BEST EVER SEASON VOWS IHEANACHO

Kelechi Iheanacho himself has admitted he has posted a great season, but he has also maintained there is more to come from him.

The Manchester City forward has netted 13 goals in all competitions for the star-studded English Premier League giants.

“It's not bad this season but I've got to keep working hard. This is not going to be the best season ever, I'm just starting and there will more good to come, I'll just keep working hard and working on everything in training and in games and I'll get there,” he told Sky Sports.

The 19-year-old Iheanacho has come through for City this season, netting seven Premier League goals despite not being a guaranteed starter and he said his goals have been important for him and his team.

“My record isn't bad, this season has been great for me and for the team as well," he said.

“I've been getting goals in the team and helping them.”

The youngster is also on the verge of extending his contract at the Etihad Stadium. 

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IHEANACHO'S GOAL NOMINATED

Kelechi Iheanacho’s second goal against Stoke City has been nominated for the Manchester City Goal of the Month for April just as the Nigeria youngster has praised the club’s fans.

Iheanacho scored twice in the month under review, both goals coming in the 4-0 win over Stoke City on the 23rd.

It is the second of his goals from that game that has been nominated for goal of the month.

The 19-year old received a pass from Wilfried Bony and went past two Stoke defenders before rounding goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard.

However, he has seven other players and nine other goals nominated against his own.

The Nigeria international has had breakthrough season with the club, scoring 13 goals in all competitions, seven of those in the Premier League, and also scored twice en-route to lifting the League Cup in February.

City have also had their best run in the Champions League this season, getting to the semifinal before being eliminated by Real Madrid last Wednesday, but have had an inconsistent run in the Premier League.

Iheanacho said he is grateful to the fans for the support they have shown the team, calling on them to continue the support in their final games of the season.

“The fans are very, very important - they cheer us on,” he told the City website.

“On Wednesday night they were far away in a big stadium but still we could hear them shouting us on loudly, giving us their support. We are very proud of them. We are very sorry that we couldn’t qualify for the final but we will come back stronger for them.

“The fans have been great to us this season. They have been cheering us on right from the very beginning. We need them behind us again in these two games in order to get into the Champions League next season. The supporters are really great and they have been especially great this season.”

The 19-year-old has been one of City’s best performers this season in what is his only first top-flight campaign, and he has so much gratitude to the fans, who he said have treated him very well.

“They treat me like one of their own and it is a great feeling. It is a great feeling when I hear them sing my name in the stands and I’m very happy when I hear that from them,” he said.

“We will look to keep doing well and make them proud.”

City host Arsenal this afternoon at the Etihad in their last home game of the season and Iheanacho is expected to play some part. 

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Manuel Pellegrini: Kelechi Iheanacho is a special talent

Manchester City manager has showered praises on Nigerian international Kelechi Iheanacho, labelling the striker as special following his brace against Southampton on Sunday.

The Striker was given a starting berth as several stars were rested for the upcoming Champions League Semi Final clash against Real Mdrid and repaid the faith of the coach by getting a brace.

Pellegrini was quoted as saying on the official web page of Man City, mcfc.co.uk "it's very important for a player to score goals. I was happy with the way he played.

Iheanacho has registered seven premier legue goals this season, with only Aguero scoring more than him in the Man City team.

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