12pm transfer news LIVE: Kompany leaves City to become player-manager at Anderlecht

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• Helen Rowe-WillcocksMay 19, 201911:17 am

• Helen Rowe-WillcocksMay 19, 201911:04 am

  VINCENT KOMPANY has announced he will become the player-manager at RSC Anderlecht after confirming he will be leaving City this summer.

  In an open letter he wrote:

  And yet I choose to rebel against what an end wants to be. I choose to be grateful for the past but remain ambitious and driven for the future.
  For the next 3 years, I will take up the role of Player-Manager of RSC Anderlecht.
  Belgium’s finest.

  This may come as a surprise to you.
  It’s the most passionate yet rational decision I’ve ever made.

  As a footballer, I was born and raised at RSC Anderlecht.
  Since the age of 6, I have been one with that club.
  A history of 34 league titles, they are second to none.

  The background to this story…
  Belgian entrepreneur Marc Coucke acquired the club from the Vanden Stock family in December 2017.
  What followed was a post take-over set back for a club that seemed robust but proved fragile.
  Although the take-over triggered a positive new vibe, sporting results did not follow.

  I stopped at their training grounds on my way to international duty last year. Just to say hello.
  Coucke, the chairman, and Sports Director Michael Verschueren asked my opinion regarding the difficult situation the club was in.
  I shared my thoughts and listened to their vision for the future: ambitious, courageous and determined to get back to n°1.
  I offered my help, no strings attached, should they need it.

  Later on in the season, newly appointed Technical Director Frank Arnesen joined and we organized some technical sessions on how to build a strong playing identity based on attractive, attacking football.
  RSCA has a tradition of having fantastic youth.
  You could say they have the past and the future, but struggle with the present.

  Not so long ago, I took a call from RSC Anderlecht.
  Quite unexpectedly, they offered me the position of Player-Manager.
  Michael and Frank explained to me in detail how they saw it working in practice.
  They had thought it through.
  Mr. Coucke, the owner, pledged full support: time, budget, framework, staff, facilities …
  I was left not only impressed, but also intrigued by this sign of confidence in me.
  It got me thinking.

  The end of this season couldn’t be more memorable.
  I have lived the dream here.
  I have learned so much the last 3 years.
  From an incredible manager.
  Pep Guardiola reignited my love for the game.
  I’ve witnessed, participated, analyzed, absorbed, studied.
  Man City play the football I want to play.
  It is the football I want to teach and to see played.

  I have decided to take up the challenge at RSC Anderlecht.
  Player-Manager.
  I want to share my knowledge with the next purple generations.
  With that, I will also put a bit of Manchester in the heart of Belgium.

  This is no goodbye. It’s a see you later.
  Et pour les Mauves, voor alle Anderlecht fans: tot binnenkort, à très bientôt.

  Love,

  Vincent

• Helen Rowe-WillcocksMay 19, 201910:50 am

  CRYSTAL PALACE will demand a staggering £60MILLION for Aaron Wan-Bissaka in order to ward off interest from Manchester United, according to reports.

  The Eagles want to stop a potential exodus at Selhurst Park with another star Wilfried Zaha determined to leave in search of Champions League football.

• Helen Rowe-WillcocksMay 19, 201910:00 am

  MANCHESTER CITY icon Vincent Kompany will leave the club this summer.

  The centre-back has announced he is bringing down the curtain on his illustrious 11-year spell at the Etihad – a day after securing the historic domestic Treble.

  Kompany, 33, has won four Premier League titles since joining the club in 2008, together with two FA Cups, four League Cups and two Community Shields.

  He played in 360 games for the club, scoring 20 goals – his last being a thunderous game-winner against Leicester in a crucial match for this year's title race.

  But the Belgian's last four seasons were marred by various injuries, seriously reducing his impact on the team.

  The centre-back is yet to reveal plans for his future.

  But City have announced Kompany's testimonial match will be played in September.

  

• John HutchinsonMay 18, 20197:08 pm

  MANCHESTER UNITED have joined Man City and Spurs in the hunt for teenage sensation Elif Elmas from Fenerbahce, it has been claimed.

  The 19-year-old already has ten caps for Macedonia and would tick boxes for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who is looking to build a team of young talent.

  According to MailOnline, City and Tottenham are also said to be interested in the midfielder which could lead to a bidding war if any of them attempt to sign him.

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