‘CITY A MAGNET FOR BIG NAMES’
PEP GUARDIOLA has claimed big-name stars will still sign for Manchester City even when he’s no longer manager.
Guardiola reckons City are now enough of a global attraction in their own right and players won’t sign for the club simply because he’s manager.
And the City boss – who has one more season left on his contract after this campaign – again refused to allay fears that he’s set to quit when his deal ends.
Guardiola, who has been at the club four years next summer, has been engulfed by mounting speculation that he’s set to take a break from the game when his deal runs out in June 2021– as he did after four years in charge at Barcelona.
But he again left his future at the Etihad uncertain as he insisted
City are the draw for top new players, not him.
Asked if players might not sign for City this summer if they know he’s leaving Guardiola said: “I don’t know – that’s not the only reason they come here, just because I am here.
“I’d say we have been in contact with others players who didn’t come to City when I was here.
“I think the club is big enough and good enough to be attractive for players who want to play in the way we do, or they watch TV and see us or they have played against us.
“They will still want to come because of economic reasons, or because just they want to play for City.
“I think Man City is not a bad solution for players.
“Honestly, it is not the only reason I am here to attract top players because the club was stable and moving forward before I came here. Roberto Mancini won the title, and also Manuel Pellegrini and the football the team were playing then was really good.
“So, I’m not the reason why they come – the club is good enough, and we need players to believe they can help us.
“We want to maintain these levels we’ve had over the past seasons not just for the manager who is in position.
“There has to be other issues and the club has to be good to convince players and agents for them to sign with us.”
Guardiola’s defending champions trail runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool by an eye-watering 22 points.
But the Spaniard insists he’ll wait to see how the end of the season pans out before deciding on the scale of a squad rebuild that could involve several departures and the arrival of three or four new faces.
Guardiola added: “I don’t know. I have an idea, but there’s been no contact from anyone in terms of that because during the season I am not ready too much to think about that.
“Of course we have to make plans and do something because David Silva (inset) is leaving and in some positions we are going to do it.
“But I don’t know how many or how much because the market is always difficult.
“And there are still two or three months and things can change a lot.
“Also, there are incredible nice things still to fight for.
“We are in the Carabao Cup final, we have the FA Cup, the league to try and finish second and two big games against Real Madrid.
“I am proud of my players, I admire them and I like to watch what they do.”