Manchester City defender admits club bosses “wanted me to have a new challenge” | OneFootball

John Stones has explained how Manchester City officials raised a potential parting of ways with the England international a few years ago.

Stones is into the final year of his current contract at the Etihad Stadium and there remain question marks over whether Manchester City’s sporting director Hugo Viana will offer a contract renewal to Pep Guardiola’s longest-serving player in the current first-team squad.

Since joining City from Everton in 2016, Stones has played an integral role in the success the Blues have enjoyed under Guardiola, winning six Premier League titles amongst a plethora of domestic success and delivering a man-of-the-match performance in City’s 1-0 UEFA Champions League final win over Inter Milan in Istanbul in 2023.

Guardiola remains a huge fan of Stones and would like to retain the Barnsley-born defender within his ranks should he leave his injury woes behind him and convince Manchester City bosses that he can keep playing regularly at the highest level.

Stones has made five starts for Manchester City this season but Guardiola’s preferred partnership between Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol in central defence has left food for thought over Stones’ long-term prospects at the Etihad Stadium.

A possible exit in the summer was mooted for the England international, who was entering the final 12 months of his contract – wherein most clubs would decide to sit down with the player in question and talk things through.

However, Stones made it clear that he sees his future at the Etihad Stadium and Manchester City officials have allowed the defender the chance to prove his fitness in the 2025-26 season – with the Blues looking to reclaim the Premier League title from holders Liverpool and challenge for the UEFA Champions League.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live ahead of England’s friendly against Wales on Wednesday, Stones has explained that doubts over his Manchester City and England prospects over the years have fuelled him to keep putting up an unrelenting fight against foot and hamstring injuries.

Revealing that he was considering a step back from the England National Team when struggling for fitness last season, the defender said: “My emotions were high. I wasn’t thinking straight. I don’t think deep down I would have ever done it (retired),” as quoted by BBC Sport.

“I said years ago when (Manchester) City wanted me to have a new challenge, I said, ‘I am going to fight’. That’s all I have known since I was a kid – why should I stop that now? So yes, there is that fight in me and that winning mentality that doesn’t want to stop.”

Stones was close to leaving Manchester City in the summer of 2020 and has previously discussed the circumstances at the time that led to behind-the-scenes conversations with club executives over a possible new challenge.

In typical John Stones fashion however, the former Everton man took the challenge upon himself to force his way back into Guardiola’s favourites and was one of Manchester City’s best and most influential players in their 2020-21 Premier League winning campaign.