Manchester City have been criticised for letting Morgan Rogers leave in 2023, who went on to hone his craft at Middlesborough in 2023 and eventually signed for Aston Villa — for whom he has been a revelation.
Unai Emery lauded Rogers’ rise at Aston Villa as there have not been many attacking midfielders who have outperformed the 22-year-old in the Premier League this season.
While the Halesowen-born technician has perhaps not had the same impact as Cole Palmer, who was also famously sold by City, he has been one of the driving forces behind Villa’s push for a place in the Champions League and their place in the competition’s quarter-finals.
Having become an England international this campaign as well, even Thomas Tuchel seems to realise that Morgan Rogers is a star in the making.
Now, it seems like Manchester City are ready to right their wrongs and re-sign Rogers.
Pep Guardiola loves Morgan Rogers as Man City plot move
TEAMtalk have claimed that City are indeed interested in signing Morgan Rogers.
The report mentions that the Sky Blues hold “serious hopes” of signing the Englishman, who Aston Villa tied down to a long-term contract until 2030 in November last year.
However, Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of Rogers, who Glenn Hoddle likened to Wayne Rooney — as Liverpool are interested in securing his services as well.
The youngster is very highly thought of at Villa Park, with Matty Cash claiming Rogers has “everything” to his game and if Manchester City do wish to prise him away, they will have to offer their former player a significant wage rise.
Pep Guardiola has already provided Morgan Rogers verdict
Pep Guardiola lauded Rogers after his breathtaking display in Aston Villa’s 2-1 win against Manchester City earlier this campaign and explained that they let him go due to the strength in depth in their squad at the time.
“Do you know what happened? There are some teams that won the treble, won the quadruple [four trophies in a season in 2019], sometimes its the right tempo, its the right time, can give the chance.”
“Everybody knows how good Morgan [Rogers] is and a lot of players who are loaned or sold by the club they were at that age where we have the players that we had to allow us to create the more successful eight years at our club.”
“In that moment, when they arrive, they are two or three years younger and in that moment, they are Kevin [De Bruyne] in their prime and David Silva and Bernardo [Silva] and Riyad [Mahrez] and Leroy [Sane] and Raheem [Sterling] and sometimes, it’s difficult and it’s the only reason why.”
However, Pep Guardiola went on to admit that Manchester City would have kept Rogers had he been in this current squad that has underperformed this season.
“In this situation right now, these type of players will be with us, that’s obvious but it in the right moment, that’s all what happened.”
“Happy for him because he’s a lovely guy and exploded, I think last season, this season, is a really, really top-class player and England have another exceptional player.”
