MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 05:33:59| >> :120:22345:22345:

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:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
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
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City158342721627
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Fulham166642422224
10Brentford157263128323
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton153661421-715
16Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1512121131-205


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!