MX23RW : Friday, April 19 04:11:18| >> :120:11291:11291:

Pablo Zabaleta open to remaining in Premier League next season

Pablo Zabaleta believes that the Premier League is "the greatest competition in the world", but admits that potentially facing off against Man City "would be tough".

Outgoing Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta has admitted that he has no problem joining another Premier League club this summer.

The 32-year-old is to leave the Etihad Stadium when his contract expires in the coming weeks, bringing an end to his nine-year association with the Citizens.

Zabaleta is widely considered to be close to agreeing terms with West Ham United, but he also has other offers on the table from sides in Spain and Italy.

After playing his final home game for City earlier this week - a 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion - Zabaleta says that he is now considering where to spend his remaining two years in senior football.

"I would not be the first to leave a club after so many years and come back in a different shirt," BBC Sport quotes him as saying. "It is time to move on. I am not getting any younger but I can play for two more years and have got offers from different countries.

"The Premier League is the greatest competition in the world and to come back and play against City would be tough. We will see what happens at the end of the season."

Zabaleta, a £6.5m signing from Espanyol in 2008, bows out of City after making 333 appearances for the club.

ID:298434: cacheID:298434:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2292:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Pablo Zabaleta of Manchester City in action the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on October 3, 2015 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Read Next:
Brooking: 'Zabaleta perfect for West Ham'
>
Read more about Pablo Zabaleta Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!