CHAPEL HILL, NC — Ahead of Man City's pre-season friendly against Celtic at the home of UNC football, Pep Guardiola cut two very different tones regarding a pair of key players heavily linked to Saudi clubs.
Following the 4-3 friendly defeat, Guardiola admitted Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson could very well depart the club this summer after seven glittering seasons. He has been heavily linked to Saudi side Al Ittihad all summer, partly thanks to the expiration of his contract in two years' time. ESPN reports that Ederson could be available for around $51.5 million (£40m / €47.5m).
The 30-year-old goalkeeper played the second half on Tuesday evening in North Carolina, conceding two goals, though neither of them saw him to blame. After the match, Guardiola was unsure of his long-term status with Man City.
"I don't know," Guardiola admitted when asked about Ederson's potential transfer. "He has to see maybe other options. Of course I would like him to stay but it depends now on the clubs. I don’t know the situation because there’s no contacts in the last days."
Pep Guardiola speaking after Man City’s preseason defeat to Celtic.
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 24, 2024
Says “I don’t know the situation” with Ederson’s potential transfer. “It depends on the clubs.”
A much different tone from his defiant stance on Kevin de Bruyne yesterday. Ederson played the 2H tonight. pic.twitter.com/ElyZttvJhB
Guardiola's admission of substantive discussions regarding a transfer of Ederson came in stark contrast to how he emphatically shot down any talks of Kevin de Bruyne leaving this summer. Just one day prior, in his pre-match media availability, Guardiola had been defiant when asked about the Belgian playmaker, saying flatly, "Kevin isn’t leaving."
When it comes to his goalkeeper, however, there are clearly more factors at play, and a move certainly sounds like it could come to fruition if the parties resume negotiations.
