The former Blues boss expected a long-serving member of Pep Guardiola’s squad to agree fresh terms, rather than return to his roots at Anderlecht
Vincent Kompany could have been “the best signing of the summer” for Manchester City, claims Stuart Pearce, with the Blues surprising many with their decision to let their long-serving skipper leave.
At 33 years of age, a man who has spent 11 seasons at the Etihad Stadium is preparing to depart.
After getting his hands on Premier League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup honours during an historic 2018-19 campaign, Kompany is moving on at the end of his contract.
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He is heading back to his native Belgium and a player-manager post at Anderlecht, with a new challenge being sort at the end of an iconic spell in English football.
Many believed that City would seek to tie down their club captain for at least another 12 months, given his contribution to the cause, but a parting of ways is imminent.
Former Blues boss Pearce is among those to have questioned the logic behind allowing a talismanic figure to walk away as a free agent, with fresh terms making more sense than seeking a replacement.
“When I was watching Manchester City train pre-Pe [Guardiola], you could see influence Vincent had on the training pitch,” Pearce, who spent a little over two years in charge of City between 2005 and 2007, told talkSPORT.
“One thing I said yesterday was the best signing of the summer could be Vincent Kompany – to keep him at the club, keep his influence and hang on to leaders within the group.
“I’d be very interested to hear how that conversation went between Vincent and the club. You’d bet it would have been very amicable.
“Vincent’s been, arguably over last ten years, the best captain and best leader there’s been in the Premier League.”
While Kompany is leaving after 360 appearances and 10 major honours, it is expected that his association with City will continue at some stage.
He is moving into management and it could be that his career off the pitch leads him back to Manchester in the future.
Pearce added: “If you’re going to bow out with Manchester City there’s probably no better season to do it than here and now with what they’ve achieved this year.
“He’ll have a connection with Manchester City in the future, whether that’s coaching, managing or as a statesman at the club, he’ll certainly have a future at City.”