Pep Guardiola claims Manchester City would have been lambasted if they spent £105m on Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice last summer

• Man City boss Pep Guardiola targeted midfielder Declan Rice for two years
• But Mikel Arteta persuaded him to join Arsenal from West Ham this past summer
• Guardiola says his side would have been ridiculed for spending such a large fee 

Pep Guardiola has claimed Manchester City would have been lambasted for spending £105million on Declan Rice had they signed him last summer.

Guardiola had targeted Rice for two years but lost out to Mikel Arteta, who persuaded the 24-year-old to join from West Ham.

The City boss even cheekily suggested Rice would have been useful to him in Sunday afternoon’s title pointer at the Emirates because his own main man Rodri is suspended. 

‘Everybody knows we wanted Declan Rice, we could play him when Rodri could not play, but in the end Arsenal pushed more and wanted him more,’ said Guardiola.

‘We could not reach Arsenal’s offer in that position. We could not afford it, maybe if the price had been less. Normally when Manchester City spend this amount of money, it is considered crazy. When others spend it, how smart they are! 

Pep Guardiola claims Man City would’ve been lambasted for spending £105m on Declan Rice

Guardiola had targeted Rice for two years but lost out to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta

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‘Arsenal believed they had to do it. That’s more than fine. He is an exceptional holding midfield player.’

Arsenal broke their transfer record to land Rice who they hope is the final piece in their jigsaw.

Guardiola says it proves evidence of Arteta’s ambition. ‘He is a guy so demanding with the board, “Give me money to spend”. He has this talent. He pushes everyone.’

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