Man City ‘would welcome Pablo Zabaleta back to club’ after Argentine retired aged 35 following West Ham spell

PABLO ZABALETA could be set for a fairytale Manchester City comeback amid reports the Etihad giants are open to a return for the Argentinian. 

The former Argentina star, who spent nine years with the Premier League giants, has decided to end his 18-year playing career after being released by West Ham. 

Zabaleta, 35, made 80 appearances in three years for the Irons after arriving on a free transfer from City in 2017.

The ex-City defender, who Pep Guardiola once described as a 'legend', was offered a contract extension by West Ham at the end of last season but an injury prevented him from signing.

The Daily Mail claims Pep Guardiola’s City side are considering giving Zabaleta the chance to build a career off the pitch should he decide to pursue another job within football. 

In the past the four-time Premier League title winners, who play Porto in a Champions League Group C game on Wednesday night, offered similar opportunities to former stars including Patrick Vieira and Joleon Lescott. 

World Cup winner Vieira, 44, took up some formal study work around the administration of City’s training methods before his appointment as manager of the club’s Elite Development side 

And the Gunners icon, who won an FA Cup with City in 2011, later went on to coach the Etihad club’s sister team New York City for two seasons before joining Nice as manager in 2018.

Meanwhile Lescott, 38, currently plies his trade in City’s loans department working on temporary moves around Europe for the club’s rising stars. 

The Birmingham-born centre-back is reported to work with the club’s football pathways manager Fergal Harkin giving guidance to players out on loan. 

Zabaleta made 333 appearances for City helping the Manchester giants pick up two Prem titles in 2011-12 and 2013-14. 

And the Argentina full-back, who became a popular figure with City fans,  won an FA Cup and two League Cup trophies in 2011, 2014 and 2016.