Arsenal tried to swap Alexis Sanchez for Raheem Sterling, Man City boss Pep Guardiola reveals
PEP GUARDIOLA vows there was never a chance that he would allow Raheem Sterling to leave for Arsenal.
The Gunners wanted the England attacker as part of the deal that would have taken Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City on transfer deadline day.
But Pep refused point – and opposite number Arsene Wenger then pulled the plug on a ash – only move for Sanchez to the Etihad.
The City boss stressed: “When we start to speak with Arsenal in the last days because before it was impossible.
“They want to make a swap with Raz. They talk to me and I said no chance. Zero chance.
“Not one percent chance to make a swap with Alexis and Raz.
“I trust a lot with him. He is 22, English he has a lot of gap to improve.
“The only deal if possible is cash.
“We try to make an offer, they accept, but in the end they could not sign the player they wanted to sign, Alexis stayed in Arsenal.”
Sanchez, wo had a £400,000 per week awaiting him if Arsenal had accepted City’s offer of £60M, is still desperate to move north.
And Guardiola left the door open for a January move, saying : “In the end Arsenal would not sell him.
“But I know Alexis well. I worked with him at Barcelona.
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“We will see what happens in the future.”
Meanwhile Vincent Kompany will miss Saturday’s clash with Manchester City after damaging a calf playing for Belgium in the 4 – 0 World Cup qualifier win against Gibraltar in midweek.
It will be his first absence for City this season having played eleven successive games dating back to last season – the injury – troubled captain’s best run in three years.
Guardiola said : “I am sad for Vincent but I think this injury will only be a short one.
“I am sad because we worked so hard to help him become fit and he worked so hard, too.”
Kompany’s new problem underscores the fact that City failed to add an extra central defender having had a £18M bid for West Brom’s Jonny Evans rejected.
But Kompany insisted : “We will survive and I am happy with my squad now the window is closed.
“Vincent played our last three games and was looking good but unfortunately for now we have lost him.”
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