This past weekend, Pep Guardiola had dinner with Joan Laporta, president of Barcelona, since the Catalan club is interested in signing three members of Manchester City’s first squad.
Guardiola and City’s Director of Football Txiki Begiristain are both in Catalonia for the Legends Trophy at the Empordà Golf Club. The City manager sat up with his former Barca president Laporta at a well-known restaurant in the city on Monday before playing in the golf competition.
Cancelo left Manchester City for Bayern Munich in January on a loan agreement to finish the season, but he will now return to the Etihad this summer. The Premier League winners are set to permanently list the Portuguese international on the market, and Barca is one among the clubs showing interest.
The 29-year-old defender quit City following what is said to have been a dispute with manager Guardiola about a lack of playing time. He had been instrumental in Manchester’s success for several seasons, therefore his decline from prominence there was rather unexpected.
Xavi recently revealed to Catalan media outlet TV3 of their unsuccessful attempts to sign the player in January, as reported by El Mundo Deportivo. Xavi is now on vacation and was not there at Guardiola’s meal. We desired Cancelo. We accepted their offer to let them have him. Finally, they inform us that Manchester City do not desire for him to join Barcelona. That is accurate.
The Barca manager said of Gundogan in the same interview: “Look, the only thing I can give is that every football player we are going to sign and have the opportunity to speak to wants to come. All of them desire to visit Barcelona.
In the lengthy interview, Xavi mentioned Silva as a player he respects and continued, “What worries me the most is not the condition of the player who is released, I am concerned about the position of ‘fair play’. I’m most concerned about that one item.
Gundogan’s contract expires this month, and Guardiola publicly addressed Barca’s desire in him on Monday: “I know that they are very interested, and City are also very keen. Both of us are highly interested. Although I hope he stays with us, he would be a remarkable addition if he ultimately decides to join Barca.
With manager Xavi admitting they were interested in a move last summer, which did not materialise, Portugal international Silva has been on Barcelona’s want list for more than a year. Paris Saint-Germain, who are seeking to replace the departing Lionel Messi, are also interested in signing Silva.