Manchester City star reveals desire to stay at the club for another 12 years | OneFootball

John Stones has admitted that Manchester City now feels like home to him, and that remaining at the Etihad Stadium until he is 40 would not be an issue.

The former Everton defender has been in fine form for Manchester City in recent weeks, bouncing back from an injury setback against Arsenal in fine fashion, and in some instances operating in a right-back role.

Across the course of the ongoing season, amid strong competition for places from the likes of Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias, John Stones has registered 20 appearances so far, scoring one goal and providing two assists in the process.

Signing from Everton in the summer of 2016, making himself one of Pep Guardiola’s first signings since joining the club at the time, John Stones has never felt more comfortable, and made that very clear during a new interview.

Speaking to Arab News this week, Stones not only admitted his love for Manchester City’s fans, but also a desire to remain at the club for the remainder of his career, stating that the Etihad Stadium now feels like home to him.

“I think the fans have always had a love-love relationship with me — I can’t thank them enough,” the England international said.

“The ovation I got against RB Leipzig (in the Champions League) when I was coming off the pitch, it touches my heart, it really does.

Stones continued, “I hope they appreciate that I appreciate them, that I always give everything and fight right until the end. This is home for me now and has been for seven years, and I’d love to play here for as long as I can. I would love to finish at 40 here, if I could.”

The 28 year-old went on to shine light on the summer of 2020, when he was linked with several moves away from Manchester City after a difficult season under Pep Guardiola, hampered by injuries resulting in inconsistent and poor form.

While Stones admits that was a ‘hard’ time in his professional football career, he had no desire to leave Manchester City at that time, and was more determined than ever to regain his place in Guardiola’s starting line-up.

“It was hard. I didn’t want to leave City, first and foremost, and I didn’t want to give up,” Stones told Arab News in an exclusive interview.

“I’ve always been a fighter, from a young age when I had setbacks at age groups, when they said I was too small. I wanted to stay true to myself and show, not to anyone in particular but to myself, that I could do it. I believe I am here for a reason and I am good enough.

“All that seems a while ago now but I’m really proud of myself for what I did and what I’m doing now. I’m trying to go from strength to strength. I want to achieve everything I can, to win trophies and make history.”

Stones will almost certainly have a huge part to play in the coming weeks, as Manchester City enter a decisive period of their season with Premier League clashes against Arsenal and Liverpool on the horizon.

A UEFA Champions League quarter-final double-header against Bayern Munich is also wedged among their action-packed schedule too, as well as an FA Cup semi-final showdown with Sheffield United at Wembley.