Premier League - Manchester Derby: Pep Guardiola reveals why he didn't chase United's Paul Pogba
Premier League - Manchester Derby: Pep Guardiola reveals why he didn't chase United's Paul Pogba
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola added spice to Saturday's
derby clash by saying Manchester United's France midfielder Paul Pogba
had been offered to him for sale by the player's agent in January.
derby clash by saying Manchester United's France midfielder Paul Pogba
had been offered to him for sale by the player's agent in January.
Guardiola told a news conference on Friday that despite a feud between
himself and top agent Mino Raiola, the Italian-Dutch agent offered Pogba
to him in January along with Armenia midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan,
who eventually joined Arsenal.
The Spanish coach, whose team will win the Premier League title with
victory over United at the Etihad Stadium, was asked for his reaction to
a recent Dutch media interview in which Raiola was quoted as calling him
"a coward" and a "dog".
himself and top agent Mino Raiola, the Italian-Dutch agent offered Pogba
to him in January along with Armenia midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan,
who eventually joined Arsenal.
The Spanish coach, whose team will win the Premier League title with
victory over United at the Etihad Stadium, was asked for his reaction to
a recent Dutch media interview in which Raiola was quoted as calling him
"a coward" and a "dog".
Guardiola initially said he did not want to respond but then
went on to say: "Finally, the people discover my secrets, I am
a bad guy. I'm a coward. I don't understand why I am a such a
bad guy. I never speak with him. But being a guy, like two months
ago he offered me Mkhitaryan and Pogba to play with us. Why?
a bad guy. I'm a coward. I don't understand why I am a such a
bad guy. I never speak with him. But being a guy, like two months
ago he offered me Mkhitaryan and Pogba to play with us. Why?
"Why (did) he offer? He was interested in Mkhitaryan and Pogba
playing with us? So he has to protect his players and he has to know
so he cannot bring the players a guy like me, like a dog. And comparing
(me to) a dog is bad. It's not good. He has to respect the dogs."
playing with us? So he has to protect his players and he has to know
so he cannot bring the players a guy like me, like a dog. And comparing
(me to) a dog is bad. It's not good. He has to respect the dogs."
Guardiola's comments have added fuel to the rumours that Pogba
is unhappy at United under coach Jose Mourinho, but Raiola denied
is unhappy at United under coach Jose Mourinho, but Raiola denied
that he had talked to the City manager, while not explicitly rejecting
he notion he may have spoken to the club.
he notion he may have spoken to the club.
"I never spoke to Pep Guardiola. I would not speak to him about
players; I would speak to Manchester City. They are a fantastic club
with a fantastic manager," he told the BBC.
players; I would speak to Manchester City. They are a fantastic club
with a fantastic manager," he told the BBC.
United did not immediately respond when asked to comment but it
appears unlikely they would have sold the 89 million pounds
($125.34 million) player to their league title and local rivals. Guardiola
said that Pogba was "an incredible player. A top, top player," but
that he rejected the approach. "I said no. We don't have enough money
to buy Pogba because he is so expensive," added the Spaniard.
appears unlikely they would have sold the 89 million pounds
($125.34 million) player to their league title and local rivals. Guardiola
said that Pogba was "an incredible player. A top, top player," but
that he rejected the approach. "I said no. We don't have enough money
to buy Pogba because he is so expensive," added the Spaniard.
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