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Pep Guardiola rules out Neymar signing, confirms Oleksandr Zinchenko exit

Guardiola rules out Neymar signing, confirms Zinchenko exit
© Reuters
Pep Guardiola plays down suggestions that Manchester City could sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar, while also confirming the exit of Arsenal-bound Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has quashed reports suggesting that the club are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar this summer.

The 30-year-old's long-term future at the Parc des Princes is believed to be uncertain, with one report claiming that the Ligue 1 giants are open to selling the Brazilian.

A report from French news outlet Le Parisien claims that PSG have offered Neymar to the Premier League champions and were hoping to receive Barcelona-linked playmaker Bernardo Silva in exchange.

City have allegedly turned down PSG's proposal, while Guardiola has described the rumours linking Neymar with a switch to the Etihad Stadium as "false".

Speaking to reporters, via mancity.com, while on the club's pre-season tour of the USA, Guardiola said: "I am so sorry for Le Parisien, but it is not true. I am sorry for them because the information they have received is false.

"Neymar is an incredible player and by my information, he is a nice guy. Let him express himself at Paris. Manchester City bought 150 players every summer, and it is not true. I am sorry for Neymar, of course."

Neymar in action for Paris Saint-Germain in March 2022© Reuters

Neymar has also been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Juventus, although PSG's new boss Christophe Galtier has stated that he is keen to keep hold of the forward this summer.

The 119-cap Brazil international, who still has three years remaining on his contract in Paris, has recorded 100 goals and 60 assists in 144 appearances for PSG across all competitions, including 19 goal contributions in 22 Ligue 1 games last season.

Bernardo Silva, meanwhile, has been strongly linked with a move away from the Etihad, but it now looks increasingly likely that the 27-year-old will remain with the Citizens this summer.

A big-money move to Barcelona has been mooted throughout this summer, but the Catalan giants have already forked out over £100m on the signings of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha amid their well-documented financial concerns.

Club president Joan Laporta has recently revealed that the La Liga outfit will now target defensive reinforcements for the remainder of the summer window, which suggests that a potential move for Silva is not high on the agenda.

The Citizens have already allowed high-profile names such as Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling to leave the club, and Oleksandr Zinchenko is set to become the next first-team star to depart as he is on the verge of joining Jesus at Arsenal.

Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko applauds fans on March 1, 2022© Reuters

The Gunners are understood to have reached an agreement with City to sign the 25-year-old for £30m plus a further £2m in add-ons, and the left-back has allegedly agreed to sign a four-year contract at the Emirates Stadium.

Guardiola has confirmed that Zinchenko has 'said goodbye' to his City teammates and has thanked the Ukrainian, Jesus and Sterling for their contribution to the club's recent trophy-laden history.

"Zinchenko, like Gabriel and Raheem, the impact of these three players has been massive, incredible people and exceptional players, they move on," the Spaniard told reporters, via the Manchester Evening News. "Chelsea and Arsenal are incredible clubs, I'm happy for the success they'll have there.

"Our gratitude for how they behave on and off the pitch. It was nice with Oleks, we could say bye properly. We couldn't do it with Gabriel and Raheem, but with Oleks we had dinner and said bye."

City have identified Brighton & Hove Albion left-back Marc Cucurella as their priority target to replace Zinchenko and they are allegedly set to step up their efforts to sign the 23-year-old ahead of the new campaign.

Guardiola has already added Erling Braut Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, Stefan Ortega and Julian Alvarez to his ranks, and all four players are with the rest of the first-team squad in Houston ahead of their pre-season friendly against Club America on Thursday.

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