Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his gratitude to defender Marc Guehi for opting to join the club in January, resisting the chance to select from multiple elite suitors as a free agent this summer.
Inside City’s Move: Pep on Beating Summer Rivals to Guehi
Guehi, a £20 million signing from Crystal Palace, is poised to face Liverpool this weekend—the club whose £35 million summer move for him collapsed in the final hours of the transfer window.
Guardiola confirmed City did not bid at that time, nor did they match Liverpool’s January offer, instead seizing a timely opportunity.
“We had a lot of problems with injuries for John Stones and Nathan Aké,”
Guardiola explained, detailing a defensive crisis that also saw Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias face lengthy absences.
“I said, ‘Wow, we are in trouble.’ We had that opportunity, and I am grateful Marc decided to join us.
He could have stayed at Crystal Palace until the end of the season, been a free agent, and gone wherever he wants.”
The defender had attracted significant interest from clubs including Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.
Guardiola revealed City’s earlier restraint stemmed from having sufficient defensive cover, until Manuel Akanji’s late move to Inter Milan, driven by Financial Fair Play considerations, altered their calculations.
Alongside Guehi, City also secured winger Antoine Semenyo, another former Liverpool target.
Guardiola emphasized his direct approach with both signings, insisting they must feel personally convinced about the move.
“I always say when I speak to players, ‘sleep on it with your pillow for as many nights as you want,’” he stated.
“You have to be convinced. Don’t come here if you don’t feel it.”
Guardiola’s comments underscore a strategic, opportunistic January intervention, securing a key defender who chose immediate commitment over a summer bidding war.
