“I don’t care”, “If you want to go to Chelsea go” – Pep Guardiola tells Manchester City stars after 4-4 draw against Chelsea
Pep Guardiola speaks on Manchester City’s stance on players leaving the club for other top Premier League clubs.
Manchester City missed the chance to open a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League table as they were held to a draw by Chelsea.
Prior to the match, Pep Guardiola was questioned on the prospects of facing his former employees and City’s laissez-faire transfer policy, and he suggested he was not sweating as players who wanted to leave would be allowed without a fuss.
“Never, ever. I give my opinion to the club and they decide if the transfer suits both sides and the player. Why? I think that means you are a small club,” he said, per the Guardian.
“Big clubs, they don’t prefer [care], they make decisions for the benefit of all three parties; players and both clubs, and agents sometimes.
“So really, it is not a problem. They want to go to Chelsea or United or Liverpool, whatever, what is the problem? They are happy to be there, the club is happy with the transfer. The other club is happy with the amount of money they spend; it is fine.”
He went on to confirm that he tried to convince Cole Palmer to stay at Manchester City, but the England international insisted on plying his trade elsewhere.
“Cole arrived and accepted some processes and then after one or two years, he said: ‘No, I don’t want to play here; I am not going to play.’ But I said: ‘Riyad [Mahrez] is leaving, you are going to get a chance here,’ and he said: ‘No, I am not going to play here, I want to leave,’ so I said: ‘OK, leave,’”
“He got what he wanted. It is good for him. He is a young player, a huge talent otherwise he would not have been here. He is a nice lad and is doing really good.”