We want Diaz to stay but future is in his hands: Pep

PEP Guardiola insists Manchester City have done everything to persuade academy graduate Brahim Diaz to stay at the club.

Diaz, the highly-rated 19-yearold attacking midfielder, is out of contract at the end of the season and was this week reported to be ready to sign for Real Madrid.

The Spaniard would be free to speak to other clubs from next month. Diaz has been used sparingly by Guardiola and not featured since scoring twice against Fulham in the Carabao Cup on November 1.

Ahead of today’s game against Bournemouth, City boss Guardiola said: “The case of Brahim is very simple. We want him to stay, we want to extend his contract for four or five years and we’ll do absolutely everything to keep him here.

“But, as I said before, it’s in his hands. My advice is if he doesn’t want to stay, he has to leave.”

City have been hoping to tie up young talents such as Diaz and Phil Foden to new deals.

However, Jadon Sancho last year opted to leave for Borussia Dortmund and has since been rewarded with first-team opportunities and full international recognition with England.

Guardiola will not attempt to stand in Diaz’s way should he want to leave but he warns there are no guarantees of action elsewhere either.

He said: “They cannot say we don’t do absolutely everything to take care of them and their families, like a human being, like a person, like a football player.

“It’s incredible how the academy works with these guys, taking care of them, teaching them what they need to be a high standard for a long time — but at the end they decide.”