Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City will struggle to keep wonderkid Brahim Diaz away from Real Madrid
Man City could see another of their young stars slip away but Guardiola promises to do "absolutely everything" to not let that happen again after the baffling departure of Jadon Sancho
PEP GUARDIOLA admitted he may not be able stop Real Madrid from poaching his young star, according to reports.
Brahim Diaz has been on the La Liga champions wish list since 2015 and Guardiola fear they may finally get the starlet despite his wishes to stay in Manchester.
Real Madrid have long been in contact with Diaz's entourage and have made it clear they are ready and willing to sign the 18-year-old, according to Goal.
However Guardiola is determined not to lose the midfielder he spent seven years chasing but after the acrimonious exit of Jadon Sancho last month the Blues boss realises it's not always in his control.
He reflected on the 17-year-old's departure when assessing Real Madrid's pursuit of Diaz.
Guardiola said: "We want him, but today the market is the market, the wishes from the clubs, maybe we can't control it. I know because we spoke with him many times, that he is committed to staying here and playing for Manchester City, because City gave him the opportunity to play at a high level.
He continued: "He grew up here, his family is happy here, but we never know. We are going to try of course, because he has to know that even at Real Madrid, even Dortmund, here, at the top level it is not easy to play- but in the end his performance on the pitch decides it."
Sancho and Diaz alongside Phil Foden were a force to be reckoned with in City's youth ranks and the trio were earmarked as the clubs most promising talent for the future.
But after Sancho's shock move to Borussia Dortmund, Guardiola is determined not to let his remaining prodigies jump ship too.
"We did absolutely everything with Sancho, we will do it with Phil, we will do it with Brahim, we will do it with the players we have.
"We did it with Tosin, of course we want those players to stay with us, but we never don't know."
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The young Spaniard signed his first professional contract with City in 2016 but is yet to make an his Premier League debut for the club.
For now Diaz will remain in Manchester, at least until December when his future will be assessed and he could be loaned out to a Spanish club.
