Manchester City midfielder: I have to present myself to City, I have a year left on my contract… – City Watch
Forgotten Manchester City midfielder Bruno Zuculini is still waiting to learn where he will play his football next season after spending half of the last campaign on loan at Rayo Vallecano and then the second half, more successfully after a disappointing stay in Spain, at Italy’s Hellas Verona.
It was recently reported that talks were progressing well over a deal that would see Zuculini return to Hellas, following their promotion to Serie A – Italy’s top flight.
However, nothing is settled and the 24-year-old spoke to ESTO ES RACING in his homeland of Argentina today, commenting briefly on where things stand.
“I have to present myself to Manchester City, I have a year left on my contract,” Zuculini said. “Hellas Verona want me to continue there.”
Zuculini is listed as having a contract expiring in 2019 by Transfermarkt, so his comment on having just one year left on his deal sheds new light on his situation.
City must now sell the player or resign themselves to losing him on a free transfer in a year’s time. According to Telenuovo, this is the hold-up with him returning to Italy.
City chiefs would like some return on their investment in the player after six loan spells, but Verona seem unwilling to commit many funds to buying him outright, knowing that they could take him for free in 2018. His agent is waiting for City to ‘make themselves alive’, then will talk to Verona.
One thing that is known is that Hellas Verona want Zuculini back and the feeling is mutual. After disappointing loan spells at Valencia, Córdoba, Middlesbrough, AEK Athens and Rayo Vallecano, he seemed to find a place in Europe he can call home at Hellas, where his older brother Franco also plays his club football.
