Pep Guardiola controversial in future transfer plans - as Manchester City boss discusses high-profile departures

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 7: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Huddersfield Town at Etihad Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola has controversially suggested that Manchester City will let key players leave for rivals, as long as the right transfer offer is submitted.

The Catalan boss' comments come after Manchester United announced the appointment of Omar Berrada as their incoming CEO, despite him currently being employed as a director at Manchester City

With Berrada's cross-city switch, Guardiola refused to rule out any of his current squad departing for the Old Trafford outfit - regardless of how important and influential they are to the Manchester City team. 

Pep Guardiola the head coach / manager of Manchester City poses with the Premier League trophy and Manchester City / City Football Group board members during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on May 21, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

Berrada will leave Manchester City to join United (Image credit: Getty Images)

“Why not? If a person is unhappy here and wants to go to United and there’s a deal for the right price then why not? No problem,” Pep Guardiola said. 

“If Omar is not happy here and wants to go there he has to go. What can we do? There is nothing wrong with that. In the clubs this situation happens.

"If we want a player from them, United have to agree to sell, and he wants to come and they agree a transfer, why should we not do it? Winning and losing doesn’t depends on these specific things. It depends on many things.”

Leroy Sane Manchester City winger and Pep Guardiola signing

Sane is one of a number of players to leave City in recent years  (Image credit: Getty)

Under Guardiola and current CEO Ferran Soriano, Manchester City have long-adopted the belief that a player who wants to leave, regardless of their importance to the team, should be sold as soon as possible. 

Indeed, in the cases of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer, all three were intent on leaving the Etihad Stadium to further their careers elsewhere, despite their potential impacts on Guardiola's side. 

More Pep Guardiola and Manchester City stories

Rio Ferdinand has issued a title warning to Liverpool and Arsenal after Man City's comeback against Newcastle, saying, 'Watch momentum kick in'.

Real Madrid interest in Erling Haaland is 'growing', with Mbappe deal less likely

Manchester City to be found not guilty of 115 charges against them, according to football finance expert

Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.