Pep Guardiola takes aim at Manchester United and Arsenal after £150m in summer spending

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has taken a swipe at rivals Manchester United and Arsenal, claiming that only his team’s spending draws attention.

Despite winning the Premier League last season, City have had a relatively quiet summer.

Their only significant signing has been Savinho from Troyes, while they’ve recouped around £50 million through the sales of players like Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Liam Delap.

In contrast, United and Arsenal have spent around £150 million between them.

Man United secured Leny Yoro from Lille, while Arsenal brought in Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.

Both clubs have also made sales, with United earning £26.6 million from the departure of Mason Greenwood and Arsenal slightly more from the sale of Emile Smith Rowe.

As City and United prepare to clash in the Community Shield at Wembley, before kicking off their league campaigns next week, Guardiola couldn’t resist taking a dig at his rivals as City chase a fifth consecutive league title.

“Yes, many years they have done it,” Guardiola told reporters.

“Many years but it’s not news. It’s just when City spend money.

“Of course I am concerned for many years [about] how good they are.

“Because every year they are better and getting better.

“You see Arsenal playing at the same level as last season, I saw the game against [Bayer] Leverkusen – they are on fire.

“Every year looks more difficult; United will be back, you know?

“They bought players and everyone wants the crown that we have [had] for four years.”

Man United will face City in the Community Shield following their victory over them in the FA Cup final in May.

Their pre-season results have been mixed, and an injury to summer signing Leny Yoro might prompt them to revisit the transfer market.

Another new arrival, Joshua Zirkzee, could make his debut against City after joining from Bologna.

However, United manager Erik ten Hag emphasized the need to manage expectations regarding the Dutch international’s readiness.

“I think it’s [the same] for every player who is coming into a new league, into a new club and it takes time,” Ten Hag said.

“I think also for every player to go into the Premier League, we all know the intensity is higher in comparison with the leagues where they are coming from, but he is already experienced.

“He was a player in Germany, he was a player in Belgium, he was a player in Italy.

“He has already collected a lot of good experience and that will help him.

“But still he has to make a step and we have to help him and then you see it’s not like, say early days, that you have a proper pre-season with the team and it’s not you went to the Euros so you had to train on his own individual [plan] here.

“He and we need time to fit him in and that will take some weeks.”

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