Man City have just sold ‘great’ player a year earlier than Pep Guardiola ‘wanted’
Pep Guardiola made sure that it was a summer of change at Manchester City after they relinquished their Premier League title to Liverpool.
The Citizens made a number of high-profile additions, with Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Tijjani Reijnders all making the move to the Etihad, among others.
However, there have also been several major outgoings, with Guardiola desperate to cut down the size of his Manchester City squad.
Kevin De Bruyne joined Napoli early on in the transfer window, while Jack Grealish made a late loan switch to Everton.
However, Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Guardiola wanted to keep one player who ended up leaving City.
Guardiola wanted to keep Ilkay Gundogan for another season
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that Guardiola would’ve delayed Ilkay Gundogan’s Man City exit until the end of the season if possible.
After leaving the Etihad, Gundogan joined Turkish side Galatasaray and is reportedly on a very healthy salary.
Wyness added that Guardiola will be disappointed to lose a player with such a good influence, but has bitten the bullet in order to build a smaller squad.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Look, I’ve been a big Gundogan fan. I think he’s a quality player, quality person as well, and he would have been a good influence that Pep would not want to have lost.
“But we’ve said it now so many times that Pep has said he wants to shrink the squad, and I think Gundogan may be an example of one that may have had to go, probably a season before Pep wanted him to.
“Look, he’ll be a big asset at Galatasaray. He’s been a great servant, and I’m sure he goes with their thanks.”
Man City respond to Real Madrid offer for star man
Meanwhile, Man City will not sell Erling Haaland despite interest from Real Madrid, sources have told Football Insider.
Amid suggestions that Haaland could be sold to fund Man City’s rebuild, the Spanish giants have been credited with an interest in the striker.
However, sources say City are confident of keeping the striker as they plan to get back to winning ways following last season’s trophyless campaign.
Haaland has signed a long-term contract at Man City and has committed his future to the club as a major part of Guardiola’s plans.
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