Football

Why Manchester City didn’t sign Manchester United star Harry Maguire


Harry Maguire joined Manchester United last summer (Picture: Getty)

Pep Guardiola claims Manchester City were simply unwilling to match Manchester United’s £80m bid for Harry Maguire.

The England international became the most expensive defender in history when he completed a record-breaking deal to Old Trafford last summer.

City and United had long tracked Maguire and Jose Mourinho was desperate to sign the centre-back in his final summer at the Theatre of Dreams.

Maguire would certainly have shored up City’s leaky defence and the champions have struggled in the long-term absence of Aymeric Laporte, who is not expected to return until February.

Maguire became the most expensive defender in world football (Picture: Getty)

The two teams take on one another today at the Etihad and, speaking ahead of that clash, Guardiola has revealed City were unwilling to match United’s bid for Maguire.

‘They paid more than we wanted to pay and he’s there,’ said Guardiola.

‘So I think he’s an exceptional player for United, for the national team, and he decided to go there.’

Maguire is expected to start in what could be a back three for United at the Etihad.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer contemplated starting Axel Tuanzebe for Wednesday’s win against Tottenham and could select the 22-year-old in a system that worked well against Liverpool and Chelsea earlier this season.

MORE: Frank Lampard could undo good work at Chelsea with January transfer splurge, warns Chris Sutton





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