Pep Guardiola will make me the complete player, insists Manchester City’s £37m new boy Leroy Sane
Newly-acquired Manchester City winger Leroy Sane believes he will become the complete player under Pep Guardiola’s tutelage after completing his move from Schalke for an initial £37m.
The 20-year-old has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium and continues Guardiola’s rebuilding job at the two-time Premier League champions, taking the club’s spending this transfer window above the £70m mark.
Sane, who scored nine goals in 42 games last season while also making his senior Germany debut, joins forward Nolito and midfield duo Ilkay Gundogan and Oleksandr Zinchenko in bolstering City’s ranks.
“One of the reasons I decided to join City was Pep Guardiola,” said Sane. “He convinced me to come here and that I can continue to progress. I know I will learn a lot under him and now I can take the next step in my career.
“I followed Pep at Barcelona and at Bayern where he achieved a lot and worked really well with young players. I think he can make me a more complete player.
“I think I will need a bit of time to start with because it’s another league and there’s a different style of play but I think I can adapt very quickly.”
Guardiola, meanwhile, is adamant that City have signed a player with precocious ability. He said: “He is a special talent and an exciting player that I think our supporters will enjoy watching.
“He has great technical ability, is comfortable on the ball and there is much to admire about the way he plays football. He is fast, enjoys creating chances for others, works hard for the team and scores goals.”
Guardiola’s spending is not expected to stop with Sane. Everton and England defender John Stones is likely to move to City in a £50m deal, while 19-year-old Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus is believed to be on the Spaniard’s radar.