Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has expressed his desire for captain Vincent Kompany to extend his contract with the champions.
Guardiola insisted Kompany is "one of the best" he's ever managed (image via Goal.com).
Kompany's contract expires at the end of the season, with speculation about the captain's future growing by the day.
The Belgium defender has made 338 appearances for City since arriving in 2008; captaining the side since 2011.
Kompany is the most successful captain in the side's history; having led his side to three league titles, three League Cups and an FA Cup.
Asked if he would want Kompany to stay at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola replied: "I would like it.
"He is our captain, he has spent 11 years here. We saw the last two games, his problem is that he can only play in one of them (Kompany started against Liverpool but sat out against Rotherham in the FA Cup).
"His only problem is his physical injuries."
Guardiola has managed some very highly-rated defenders in the past; but the Spaniard has insisted Kompany is one of the best.
"Only (Aymeric) Laporte has a better left foot than Vincent," Guardiola claimed. "Every central defender has quality but no doubt Vincent is special.
"The charisma, the winning, it is incredible. He is one of the best central defenders I have ever seen."