'What they don't need': Man City urged not to sign star Man United let go in 2022, Pep said he's 'exceptional'
"What they don't need." ❌
In the summer, Manchester City will be looking to bolster their squad as their season is going from bad to worse.
Pep Guardiola signed a contract extension until 2027 earlier this campaign but The Athletic reported two weeks ago that City realise that they have made a grave error by not rebuilding their squad in the summer and instead, choosing to do so next year.
Manchester City lost their fifth game of the 2024/2025 Premier League season against Manchester United, sitting in fifth place after 16 matches in the aftermath of their 2-1 defeat.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 5 |  Man CityManchester City | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 23 | 5 | 27 |
Pep Guardiola admitted he’s not “good enough” at this moment in time due to how City continue to capitulate while playing poorly and not getting the desired results.
As reported by the Independent, a player who is on Manchester City’s radar is none other than former Manchester United superstar Paul Pogba, with Pep Guardiola believed to fancy a shock transfer.
The report claimed that the Frenchman is not believed to be open to a return to Manchester and the Premier League and is instead far more interested in playing his football in Italy, Germany or Spain.
Pogba, who is scheduled to return to the pitch in March has been deemed as a signing that the Sky Blues should steer clear of by Craig Burley.
Man City warned against shock Paul Pogba transfer
The Scotsman pinpointed how the World Cup winner has not played football for ages, for one.
Secondly, Craig Burley also believes that considering Manchester City’s midfield lacks physicality, Pogba’s potential addition would not help them as the pundit reckons he is a bit of a luxury player.
Burley claimed via ESPN FC: “What they don’t need is a player who hasn’t played for, I don’t know how long and when he last played, for quite a considerable period of time, was playing at, let me be nice here, at a leisurely pace.”
“You may have noticed when you watched Man City, one of the problems they have is that they have too many players who are struggling to inject that pace and physicality into the game and the injuries.”
It was claimed in November that Pogba is open to a Premier League move, after his contract at Juventus led to a mutual termination.
West Ham and Newcastle fancy Pogba as a potential addition in January as well.
What Pep Guardiola said about Pogba at Man United
When the 31-year-old was at Manchester United, Guardiola revealed that the late Mino Raiola offered City a chance to sign him in January 2018.
However, Pep Guardiola made this revelation by biting back at Raiola, who previously referred to him as a “coward” and a “dog.”
Guardiola said via HaytersTV: “I will answer him; I don’t understand why I am. Finally, the people discover my secrets, a bad guy. I’m a coward. I don’t understand why I am such a bad guy. I never speak with him so his opinion, I don’t know. But being a guy who two months ago offered me [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan and [Paul] Pogba to play with us. Why?”
“Why [did] he offer? He was interested in Mhikitaryan and Pogba to play with us. So he has to protect his players and has to know he cannot bring the players to a guy like me, like a dog. And comparing a dog is bad. It’s not good. He has to respect the dogs.”
Pep Guardiola went on to sign Pogba’s praises but maintained that he was too pricey of a signing for the Premier League champions to seal at the time.
“Pogba is an exceptional player. A top, top player.”
“I said no. We don’t have enough money to buy Pogba because it’s so expensive.”
“[I was] Surprised because I am a dog. So that’s why, if I’m a dog, why does he [Mino Raiola] want his players to join a dog? So, no, no way.”
Whether the transfer takes place is an answer only time has in store but judging by Craig Burley’s assessment, several pundits seem likely to be critical if Manchester City sign Pogba.
What's Your Reaction?
