Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar has put Manchester City on red alert by admitting his desire to play for Pep Guardiola.
But the 20-year-old starlet insists he is in no rush to leave the Ligue 1 side.
Guardiola lauded the France Under-21 international after City’s Champions League outings against Lyon earlier this season.
The City boss labelled Aouar “incredible” after the 2-2 draw at Parc OL in November – having also played a key role in Lyon’s 2-1 win at the Etihad in September.
Guardiola stated: “Houssem Aouar is a very good player, he is incredible. He’s always very calm with the ball at his feet, with an excellent technical quality.”
(Image: REUTERS)
Aouar has gone from strength-to-strength during the campaign, shining in the OL midfield.
His displays have seen him watched by a number of Europe’s biggest clubs, with scouts from Barcelona , Real Madrid and Liverpool having all checked on his progress.
But it appears that the Guardiola factor could be decisive, should City come calling in their quest to find a long-term replacement for veteran Fernandinho.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Asked by Canal Plus if he would want to play for City on Sunday night, Aouar responded: “You wouldn’t like to go to City?
“It is a great European club and all players have this urge to play for the biggest European clubs, which in addition is led by Guardiola, who for me is a reference as a coach.
“Guardiola has seen everything before. It is extremely good to play his teams and that’s what I like, his way of seeing football.”
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Nevertheless, Aouar says he wants to leave his mark on Lyon – where ex-City and Arsenal defender Sylvinho is replacing outgoing coach Bruno Genesio this summer.
“I’m still under contract with Lyon,” he added. “I would like to leave a mark on the history of this club.
“After this season there is a new direction, a new coach [Sylvinho]. We will have to sit down and discuss the role I can have. I’m ready to have a technical leadership role.
“I’m a technical leader in the field and especially as a leader in the locker room, so there we go, we will discuss and then we will make decisions with the club.”
