Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has stated that his side were interested in signing Manchester United new signing Harry Maguire but were not able to afford him.
Maguire joined United from Leicester City in a world record fee this summer.
Shortly after beating Liverpool to win the Community Shield on Sunday, Guardiola was asked if the signing of Maguire would make Manchester United title contenders:
“Yeah. Maguire is an excellent, top-class player.
“We were interested, but we could not afford it. United afford it. He’s an excellent player, national team too, he had an incredible World Cup.
“He’s strong in the air, good with the ball, the build-up, he drives with the ball, he’s fast, so fast. He has all the qualities. Congratulations to United for this signature”, he said.
When asked if the title race would be another two horse race, Guardiola said:
“I don’t know if it will be like last season, two real contenders, I think United with Maguire and the other players, Arsenal too, Chelsea and Tottenham. I think there will be many, many contenders this time,” said Guardiola.
“I think at the beginning of the season, all six of these teams are contenders. People say we are going to win the title, that has no meaning, I don’t care. The next game against West ham.
“But for United, it doesn’t matter what happened in the last four or five years. Always, in the beginning, they are contenders to be champions of course, like Chelsea and Liverpool and whoever”.
