“I have to choose wisely” — Manchester City keeper makes admission over Etihad future amid departure speculation

Stefan Ortega has opened up on the factors behind his upcoming decision over his Manchester City future.

The 31-year-old is currently in the midst of his longest run in Pep Guardiola’s team, starting three consecutive games after replacing the injured Ederson in a draw with Liverpool at Anfield before the international break.

However, the German has just one year left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, and having shown the attributes of a starting keeper at the highest level, plenty of questions surrounding his future at the club have been raised.

The former Arminia Bielefeld man says he is settled in Manchester at the moment, but with his wife due to give birth to their second child in the coming months, a decision on his future will need to be made.

“At the end it’s not my single decision, my [wife] is there as well, we’re expecting the second child,” Ortega said in an interview with the Manchester Evening News.

“I’m not in the beginning of the 20s so I have to choose wisely now what I’m doing in summer. It’s not that I have to push the club that they will sell me, it’s just like see what happens.

“I’m relaxed because there are worse places than here. My family and me are really happy here. My wife struggled a bit in the beginning but I think it’s normal to go in a different country.

“I’m happy to be here because it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. The target is still the same, I’m ambitious from the beginning and this is what I try to do every day.”

According to a report from the Daily Mail, there are ‘differences’ over the financial terms and length of the proposed deal to extend his current contract.

As per the reports, Ortega has his mind set on being a number-one at a high-level club, something he is unlikely to reach at the Etihad.

The keeper reportedly purchased a new property in Hamburg but that is said to be an ‘investment’ as a family summer home rather than an ‘indication on career steps’.

Next up for Ortega and his Manchester City mates is a Premier League showdown with Crystal Palace as they look to remain in the title hunt.