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Pep Guardiola hints at City departures to avoid having “sad” players
Man City boss Pep Guardiola has hinted that he will allow some players to depart the club this summer in a bid to avoid having “sad” players next season. City named a 27-man squad for the Club World Cup this summer, which includes their four new signings Rayan Cherki, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Marcus Bettinelli.
Mateo Kovacic was a late omission following an Achilles injury that ruled him out of the tournament. Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips and James McAtee are among the players who were left out to begin with.
Grealish and Walker in particular are expected to leave City this summer, and ESPN has reported that there could be more departures to follow.
Speaking to the media before City defeated Al Ain 6-0 in Atlanta on Sunday, Guardiola revealed that City will have to trim the squad this summer.
“I would love to have the players that we have now all season,” said Guardiola.
“I would love it. I don’t have any complaints about the players, how they behave.”
“The problem is they will be unhappy during the season. They will be sad, they will be disappointed. I don’t want that. For me it’s not a problem.”
“I have more selection but I don’t like to be six, seven players — just in case, no injuries — being at home. So I do it that way.”
“I do that for them. So that’s why we have to see what happens. We still have a long time, I would say, until the transfer window will be closed.”
Several players to leave City this summer
One of the names almost certain to leave City this summer is Jack Grealish, who Guardiola admitted earlier this month “has to play”. Grealish has looked a frustrated figure over the past two seasons, with his playing time gradually decreasing.
Guardiola revealed that the club and Grealish have held honest conversations regarding the player’s future, and that the England forward was left out of the Club World Cup squad to search for a new club.
Kyle Walker is likely to follow Grealish to the exit, with the former captain the subject of serious interest from Fenerbahce. Walker spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan where he was a regular in the side that finished in a disappointing 8th place in Serie A.
Kalvin Phillips and Ilkay Gundogan are also tipped to leave, with the latter rumoured to have agreed personal terms with Turkish giants Galatasaray. Guardiola has insisted he doesn’t know anything about it, but with City already securing four new signings, more departures are likely to follow.
