Guardiola’s Training Camp: Manchester City Takes 27 Players to USA, Featuring Rising Academy Talents
Pep Guardiola has taken a squad of 27 players to the USA for Manchester City’s pre-season fixtures, mostly comprising academy talents
The age difference between the oldest and youngest members of Manchester City’s pre-season squad is a striking 22 years.
At 38, Scott Carson, the squad’s oldest member, drew laughs from Jack Grealish when he sat next to teenager Joel Ndala on the flight to North Carolina. Carson’s role as a father figure and senior player is clear, yet he remains well-integrated with the team.
The youngest player, 16-year-old Stephen Mfuni, wasn’t born when Carson won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 or the FA Cup in 2006, nor when Carson made his England debut in 2007. Born in 2008, Mfuni is even younger than Carson’s eldest son, who is part of Wolves’ academy.
Despite these peculiarities in the squad due to the absence of most first-team players, Mfuni’s rise over the past year suggests he could catch Guardiola’s eye. Last season, Mfuni made more appearances for the under-18 and under-21 teams than any other under-16 player in City’s academy, surpassing even Phil Foden and Cole Palmer at that age.
Described as ‘outstanding‘ by last season’s under-18 head coach Ben Wilkinson, who now coaches the under-21s, Mfuni debuted for the U18s at just 15. After a standout performance in an early Youth Cup win, Wilkinson praised him: “He’s an exceptional talent. We think very highly of him. For a player that’s 15 years old, he has great maturity and a real high level of potential. He played slightly out of position tonight at left-back but dealt with the ball really well and looked comfortable in defensive situations.”
Mfuni is known for his ball-playing abilities, passing vision, and goal-scoring instinct. He notably scored in the U18 Premier League Cup final against Manchester United and ensured a goal in the FA Youth Cup final by capitalizing on Kian Noble’s header. Despite initially taking credit for the goal, Mfuni’s likable character shone through, and all was forgiven when the team celebrated their victory.
City’s website describes Mfuni as a ‘classy, ball-playing defender,’ capable of playing as a left centre-back or left-back. Training with Josko Gvardiol later in the tour could further his development. An England under-17 international eligible for the Democratic Republic of Congo, City has high hopes for Mfuni this season.
“He is outstanding for a boy of his age,” Wilkinson said after the cup final against United. “He’s done great, lots of learning for him tonight. He gets done for the goal tonight, steps up and gets sucked in and gets under the ball. That’s what these moments are for. Obviously you want to win, but the development for someone like him, hopefully the next time he comes across that moment in a big game there will be a little thing in his mind which will allow him to make a better decision. He’s had a fantastic year and hopefully he can really kick on over the next couple of years.”
With senior defenders John Stones, Ruben Dias, Manu Akanji, and Nathan Ake absent, Gvardiol is the only experienced defender available for the tour, though he will join after the first game in North Carolina. Callum Doyle, Luke Mbete, and Jadel Katongo provide additional defensive options, having gained experience in the Championship and EFL. Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Lakyle Samuel, key players in the Youth Cup, also bolster the squad.
Mfuni will be the seventh-choice centre-back this summer, but playing opportunities should still arise. Having consistently exceeded expectations and handled each step up with composure, a senior call-up seems like a natural progression for Mfuni. Now, he’s firmly on the radar of the first-team coaches.
“There are still some things we saw and think he could have done better but for a 15-year-old to sort of step into this environment and look so comfortable is a really positive sign,” Wilkinson said in January.
A pre-season under Guardiola won’t faze Mfuni one bit.
