Manchester City will offer Pablo Zabaleta a role at the club when his playing career is over, and believe he could even take over as manager in the future.
Zabaleta has joined West Ham after nine years at City, but the fans’ favourite has been assured that he will be welcomed back.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak thinks the 32-year-old Argentine defender can be groomed for management in much the same way that Patrick Vieira has been put in charge of the club’s MLS franchise New York City.
‘One of the things I said to Pablo the last time we spoke is that he is part of our City family and always will,’ said Al Mubarak.