Pep Guardiola “no regrets” for Paul Pogba’s remark after he was offered to Man City
Pep Guardiola “no regrets” for Paul Pogba’s remark after he was offered to Manchester City amid transfer speculation.
On the eve of the Manchester derby in April 2018, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola informed reporters he was offered the chance to sign Paul Pogba from Manchester United.
After disclosing he turned down the chance to recruit Paul Pogba on the day of Manchester City’s derby defeat in April 2018, Pep Guardiola said he had “no regrets.”
The 29-year-old Manchester United midfielder’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he is anticipated to depart the club.
Guardiola is believed to be keen on signing a new midfielder as Fernandinho embarks on the final stretch of his stint at the Etihad.
With no transfer fee to worry about, Pogba is reportedly in the crosshairs as a curiously cost-effective option.
Many believe Guardiola can get the best out of Pogba – despite his United links.
One of the potential hurdles involved in the swoop could be the issue of wages. Pogba is believed to pocket £290,000-a-week at Old Trafford, and City would not be prepared to match that but the player could be swayed by the idea of working under Guardiola.
City are also prepared to slap a four-year deal on the table, according to reports, which would ensure that Pogba earns big money and plays for a silverware-chasing club until his mid-thirties.
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Pep Guardiola “no regrets” for Paul Pogba’s remark
Before, City had the chance to sign Pogba before.
In April 2018 – on the eve of the Manchester derby – Guardiola told reporters the player’s late agent Mino Raiola offered him the opportunity to bring Pogba to the Etihad three months earlier.
The confession came after Raiola described Guardiola as “a coward” and “a dog”. Responding to the insults, the Spaniard said: “I will answer him; I don’t understand why I am. Finally, the people discover my secrets – a bad guy. I’m a coward [sarcasm].
“I don’t understand why I am a bad guy. I never speak with him so his opinion [about me], I don’t know. But being a guy who two months ago offered me [fellow United midfielder Henrikh] Mkhitaryan and Pogba to play with us. Why?
“Why does he offer? He was interested in Mkhitaryan and Pogba to play with us? So he has to protect his players and has to know he cannot bring the players to a guy like me, like a dog. And comparing a dog is bad. It’s not good. He has to respect the dogs.”
Guardiola added: “Pogba is an incredible player… a top, top player… I said no [to the offer]. We don’t have money enough to buy Pogba because he is so expensive. I’m surprised because I am a dog. He wants his players to come to here. So, no. No way.”
Although City couldn’t afford to buy Pogba at the time, they can this summer.
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