Leaving Chelsea for Manchester City was ‘near impossible to say no’ to says Marcus Bettinelli | OneFootball

The lure of joining Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City this summer was an opportunity that Marcus Bettinelli simply could not turn down, the goalkeeper has admitted.

The 33-year-old was perhaps the most surprising of Hugo Viana’s first four official recruits as Manchester City’s new director of football, as the Portuguese official oversaw a changing of the guard in the goalkeeping department.

Following the expiry of his agreement at the Etihad Stadium, and after six seasons of service to Manchester City, fan-favourite Scott Carson vacated his position as third-choice goalkeeper behind Ederson and Stefan Ortega Moreno.

The veteran Englishman was a hugely popular figure within the Manchester City dressing room, often praised by his teammates and Pep Guardiola himself for the behind-the-scenes role he would play throughout seasons.

But in Marcus Bettinelli, they have a ready-made expert for the role, having occupied the same position in Chelsea’s goalkeeping department for the last four years, with plenty to live up to upon joining Manchester City.

Speaking to reporters from the FIFA Club World Cup this week, Bettinelli opened up on the process that ultimately led to joining Manchester City in a surprising switch this summer, but an opportunity he felt could not be turned down.

“I think obviously when you get a call from Man City and you’ve got a chance to work with winners and Pep [Guardiola], who’s won everything, to learn from him, see how he works, see this mentality the lads have in his team, it was near impossible to say no,” Bettinelli admitted, as relayed by The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell.

“I’ve always been a London boy,” he added. “So leaving for myself and my family was obviously always a big decision but when Man City phone, these ideas kind of go out the window. You only really have one choice and that is to go because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Opening up on how the deal emerged, the 33-year-old revealed, “It was a bit of a whirlwind. Obviously, last season I was at Chelsea and we had the Conference League final, which only felt like a week ago now.

“But yes, that finished and then I had a small break, but I managed to get away and stuff. Then I was going back and I think the intention was always to go to America with Chelsea, to be honest.

“And then I got the phone call from my agent and he said, ‘You might be going to America, but you might be with a different team, really. And I said, ‘Alright, with who?’ and he said, Manchester City. So, yes, it was obviously a bit of a crazy few days.”

But how does Marcus Bettinelli feel about the role he has undertaken at Manchester City?

The veteran goalkeeper comes into the Etihad Stadium largely to replace the outgoing Scott Carson, who has spent the last six seasons operating as Pep Guardiola’s third-choice shot-stopper and only registering two appearances during that time.

“I’ve done that for the last four years at Chelsea. Very different, young squad and stuff. At the same time, when I first went there, they’d just won the Champions League, so it was filled with winners as well. I definitely got that sense here when I first joined,” the highly-experienced goalkeeper said.

“It’s filled with winners, big leaders and stuff. So hopefully over the next couple of years I’m here, I can obviously implement that. I don’t need to come here and do anything extraordinary. These boys have been winning stuff for years and got extreme mentality,” he continued.

“So it’s a pleasure to be a part of, a pleasure to watch, to train with. Hopefully I can contribute where I can. I’ve done this role for four years, really enjoyed it. I’ve worked with some top-class goalkeepers and obviously got the chance now with Eddie [Ederson] and Stef [Stefan Ortega Moreno], who have welcomed me extremely well.

“I’m always obviously trying to learn. I know I’m 33, but you can always learn. You can always take little bits off each goalkeeper. So, the fact I’ve got a chance to work with them and see how they work and take a bit off them and my role here is to make sure whoever plays on the weekend is 100% ready and mentally and physically right.

“That’s my job and my aim. And at the end of the day, if the gaffer needs me to play a game or come on, then so be it. I’ll also have to be ready. And if that does happen, great. If it doesn’t, I also love the fact I can obviously help the boys, help the team and help whoever’s playing.”

For now, it remains to be seen when Manchester City fans could get their first glimpse of Marcus Bettinelli in competitive action, having only seen their previous third-choice goalkeeper twice during his six-season stay with the club.