PEP’S POGBA BOMBSHELL
City boss claims agent offered them £89m United star in January window
PEP GUARDIOLA has revealed he was offered the chance to sign Paul Pogba from rivals Manchester United in January. In a revelation that further exposes the breakdown in relationship between Pogba and Jose Mourinho, the Manchester City boss dropped a transfer bombshell on the eve of today’s derby.
City can seal the Premier League title with a victory today — but just as worrying for United is their prime asset being offered to their city rivals.
Guardiola claims the chance to buy Pogba was put to him by the £89million midfielder’s agent Mino Raiola. He said: ‘Two months ago he offered me (Henrikh) Mkhitaryan and Pogba to play with us. He was interested in Mkhitaryan and Pogba to play with us. Pogba is an incredible player. A top, top player.’
As news of Guardiola’s comments broke last night, Pogba tweeted an image showing his hand to his ear and the caption: ‘Say what?’
Pogba’s relationship with Mourinho has been strained and the Frenchman has started only five of United’s last 12 games. Mourinho is unlikely to be impressed with his public response to the link to City.
Raiola denies he has spoken to Guardiola but did not distance himself from touting his clients around to the likes of City.
He told The BBC: ‘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.’
Relations between Mourinho and Raiola — who also represents Romelu Lukaku — have also come under serious strain.
The outspoken agent’s frequent trips to United’s Carrington training ground are considered a distraction and his opinions on team selection unhelpful.
And Jorge Mendes, a Mourinho ally, is understood to have held an interest in looking after Pogba. Guardiola’s comments came in a ferocious attack on Raiola — who also represents Romelu Lukaku and Arsenal star Mkhitaryan.
Raiola labelled Guardiola ‘a coward, a dog’ last month to reignite a feud dating back to the Catalan’s handling of Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Barcelona.
The revelation that Guardiola was sounded out about the prospect of signing Pogba will spell further trouble for Raiola and Mourinho.
Guardiola’s rebuke was dripping with sarcasm and he added: ‘He (Raiola) has to protect his players and he has to know he cannot bring the players to a guy like me, like a dog.
‘Comparing (me to) a dog is bad. It’s not good. He has to respect the dogs. Finally, the people discover my secrets, I am a bad guy. I’m a coward.
‘I am not a good guy. He deserves his players to play with better guys. But, he said as well that I am a top manager. Thank you!’
Victory over United today will secure a third Premier League title in seven seasons for City and set a record for the earliest any side has ever been crowned champions.
Guardiola, however, is adamant his team have no chance of replicating this season again.
‘In the future? No way. Never is it going to happen again that,’ he said. ‘Never. Eighteen games (won) in a row? No way. It’s impossible. The opponents want to beat you, you’re a little bit more relaxed, the big achievement is already done so your intensity is sometimes [lower].
‘I have experience of that. I was in Barcelona four years and handled when you win, you win, you win — it’s so more demanding. Next season will be so, so complicated for us. That is not going to happen again. It’s impossible.’
Mourinho, meanwhile, has told United fans it will not be the end of the world if City clinch the title today.
The Old Trafford manager reminded them that he clinched his second title at Chelsea by beating United in 2006, and it did not spell disaster for the Old Trafford club.
‘I won the title at Chelsea against United,’ said Mourinho. ‘We beat United 3-0 and we won the title at Stamford Bridge in 2005-06 but it was not the end of the world. Manchester United didn’t finish. It was just football.
‘The only thing I can say is that we want to win. We don’t want to offer them the game. It’s normal that you want to delay the champions becoming champions.
‘We’d like to beat them and we would like Tottenham to beat them next week. We’d like them to be champions as late as possible.
‘That is normal but in this case, obviously they are going to be champions because there is a very significant (points) difference.’
The Portuguese admitted City deserve to be champions. ‘The moment they become champions, which will be sooner rather than later, I will react the same that people reacted when I won three titles in this country.
‘City will be champions because they deserve to be. The table is always a reflection of the season.’
Guardiola’s men will not get their hands on the Premier League trophy today whatever happens, with the ceremony expected to take place after the visit of Huddersfield Town on May 6.