Pep Guardiola remains highly interested in bringing Pedri González to Manchester City, as he still considers the Barcelona midfielder an ideal signing. With recent squad changes, including the departure of Julián Álvarez to Atlético de Madrid and Oscar Bobb suffering a serious injury, City is eager to reinforce its roster. This comes even after securing the signing of Savio Moreira.
Guardiola has long admired Pedri and previously made efforts to lure him to Manchester, but negotiations fell through due to Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s reluctance to part with the young talent. However, circumstances at the Catalan club have shifted significantly in recent times. Xavi Hernández’s dismissal and the subsequent appointment of Hans-Dieter Flick as the new head coach have altered the club’s stance on Pedri’s role in the squad. Unlike Xavi, Flick does not view Pedri as an untouchable asset, making a potential transfer more feasible.
Barcelona currently has a wealth of options in midfield, with players such as Fermín López, Frenkie de Jong, Ilkay Gündogan, and recent acquisition Dani Olmo competing for spots. Given this depth, the club might be more open to the idea of letting Pedri go if the right offer comes along. The Spanish international is currently valued at over €80 million, a sum well within Manchester City’s financial capabilities.
Due to City’s strong financial standing, affording Pedri’s transfer fee is not an issue. Guardiola and the club’s management view the 21-year-old as a key part of their long-term strategy, potentially stepping in as a successor to Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian playmaker, who has been instrumental in City’s dominance in recent years, is expected to leave for the Saudi Pro League in 2025. As a result, Guardiola is keen to secure a dynamic and technically gifted midfielder who can fill the void De Bruyne will eventually leave behind.
To facilitate the deal, Manchester City might also explore the option of including a player in the negotiations to reduce the overall transfer fee. One possible candidate is Matheus Nunes, who has struggled to establish himself at the club since his arrival last year. The Portuguese midfielder has found it difficult to break into Guardiola’s plans and could be offered to Barcelona as part of a swap deal to make the transfer more appealing to the Spanish giants.
With City’s resources and Guardiola’s persistent admiration for Pedri, a move remains a strong possibility, particularly given Barcelona’s evolving stance on their midfield setup. If an agreement can be reached, Pedri could soon be making the switch to the Premier League, where he would be a key piece in Manchester City’s future ambitions.
