Man City beat Man Utd to signing of winger Solskjaer scouted in Europa League

Filip Stevanovic TEAMtalk

Partizan Belgrade have officially announced they have sold winger Filip Stevanovic to Manchester City.

The 18-year-old will make the switch to The Etihad in January when the transfer window opens.

Stevanovic is a Serbia under-21 international and City are understood to have agreed a fee of around £6m.

Back in August, reports in his native country claimed Man Utd had agreed a deal to sign him and then send him back on loan to Partizan for the season.

According to Republika (via Sport Witness), United were set to sign Stevanovic for €12m. The teenager then spending the 2020-21 season on loan with his current club, Partizan.

United faced Partizan in the Europa League group stages this season, giving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the chance to see the player in action. Stevanovic featured in both games between the two sides.

The signing claims were later denied by sources close to the Premier League club and now City have swooped.

 

The Serbian club tweeted: “FC Partizan is pleased to announce the transfer of Filip Stevanovic to @ManCity, in the winter transfer period of 2021. The transfer of Filip Stevanovic to one of the largest European clubs is a significant confirmation of the good and hard work of all club structures.”

The Manchester Evening News, recently claimed City were ahead of United in the race for Stevanovic.

Stevanovic has risen to prominence in the Partizan first team since making his debut in December 2018. Last season, he scored nine goals in 35 appearances.

He has three goals and two assists this season and also made his debuts for Serbia’s under-19s and under-21s over the past couple of years.

Stevanovic became the youngest player to score in a UEFA competition for Partizan in August 2019. He netted his first goal for the club aged just 16, against Welsh side Connah’s Quay.

 

 

Pep wants to stay at City

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola is adamant he would like to “stay longer” at Manchester City, despite Barcelona’s presidential candidate vowing to bring him back to the Nou Camp.

The City boss is in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium. As such, speculation over his future is likely to increase as the season goes on.

Victor Font, a candidate to be the next Barcelona president, has expressed a desire to take Guardiola back to the Nou Camp.

Asked about this, Guardiola said: “I am incredibly happy here. I’m delighted to be in Manchester and I hope I can do a good job this season to stay longer.”

Guardiola’s pledge comes in the wake of one pundit claiming the Catalonian’s powers as a manager may be on the decline.

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