The former Chelsea star is set to join the Premier League champions on a loan deal and his new manager hopes he will be available for every match during his time with the club. Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that Frank Lampard will start training with the club following his move to New York City FC from Chelsea.

Goal revealed on Friday that the England midfielder was set to sign a short-term deal with the Premier League champions as part of their partnership with the new MLS outfit.

And following the Blues' penalty shoot-out defeat to Olympiakos, Pellegrini revealed the midfielder will join the club prior to the start of the Premier League season.

"As you know Frank has signed a contract with New York City and will start working here in January as the season starts in March," he told reporters. "From next Wednesday he will start working with our team and will play for us until then.

"At the moment he will work with the squad and be a member of the squad. He will fight for a position.

"He knows we have a very good team, we have a lot of players in his position. He is one player more.

"We have a lot of games particularly with the Champions League - so he's very important for our team."

Reports have suggested that Lampard would refuse to play against Chelsea when his new side face Jose Mourinho's team in the 2014-15 season.

But Pellegrini is hopeful that the player will be available for every match and plans to discuss Lampard's availability with the veteran midfielder.

"I will talk about all those things with him but he'll be a player for City and he'll play every game he needs to play.

"Is Lampard a six month loan? For the moment he will start working with our team from now until January and we'll see after that.

"He's a player for New York City and we'll what happens when he comes to us."
Lampard could make his first appearance for Manchester City when they face Arsenal in the Community Shield on August 10. http://m.goal.com/s/en-gb/news/5000620?ICID=HP_HN_4

Really a twist!
But why didn't chelsea take advantage of this to bring him back so as to fulfil their quota of English player in a team and also it would have been a source of motivation for fans and the team with Lamps bk.
Anyway, if I were him, I won't kick a ball against Chelsea while in man city.

onome710: Really a twist!
But why didn't chelsea take advantage of this to bring him back so as to fulfil their quota of English player in a team and also it would have been a source of motivation for fans and the team with Lamps bk.
Anyway, if I were him, I won't kick a ball against Chelsea while in man city.

. Man city is an affiliated club to New York City that he signed for.Both are owned by Man city owner.The possible option for him is to go an Austrian club in a less competitive league which is also owned by the same Monsour.That is football for you.Who could believe chelsea would sign fabregas or mata would go to Man Utd? Let EPL begin....

I don't believe he requested not to play against Chelsea. Is he not a professional footballer, after all some players play against their countries of origin.