LONDON • While Pep Guardiola was left purring with delight at his side's "desire to play good and always improve" as Manchester City romped to a 5-0 hammering of Burnley in the fourth round of the FA Cup, he also had a tinge of regret.
Not at his side's display at the Etihad on Saturday as the Premier League champions remain on course for an unprecedented quadruple, but rather at being beaten to the punch by Barcelona for Frenkie de Jong's signature.
The 21-year-old Dutch international, arguably the hottest midfield prospect around, agreed to join the Spanish champions from Ajax in the summer for a fee of €75 million (S$115.8 million) on Wednesday.
However, de Jong, who also turned down Paris Saint-Germain, had been in discussions with City regarding a potential move, telling Dutch broadcaster NOS over the weekend that he "spoke with Guardiola".
Having missed out on his services, the Spaniard felt the club had to be "quicker and smarter" in the transfer market if they were to land targets in the future.
Urging City's Abu Dhabi owners to try and sign players earlier in their careers so that they are more affordable, he said: "The transfer market, the salaries, increase a lot. After Neymar went to PSG (for €222 million), prices have increased to incredible levels.
"We have to adapt. It's difficult to buy top, top players at a good price.
SKY-HIGH PRICES
The transfer market, the salaries, increase a lot. After Neymar went to PSG (for €222 million), prices have increased to incredible levels. We have to adapt.
PEP GUARDIOLA , Manchester City manager, urging City's Abu Dhabi owners to try and sign players earlier in their careers so that they are more affordable.
"It's almost impossible. Maybe we have to trust in the young players (in the academy) and help them develop their own personality here.
"I said many times, Barcelona and (Real) Madrid, it's impossible to fight against them, for the prestige, the incredible league, the incredible clubs they are.
"The players have to take their own decisions. When they don't want to come, it's because they want another place. There are other options, but we are going to try if we believe we need players in that position."
He was also adamant that having the correct pay structure was vital to maintaining team spirit.
The 48-year-old, who splashed out a club-record fee of £60 million (S$107.1 million) for Riyad Mahrez last summer, added: "We try to keep the harmony in the locker room with the wages. When you have no balance with that, then there is always a problem with the mood in the locker room.
"One of the good things that City have done is keeping that balance.
"The reality is that it's not just one or two teams paying a lot on wages. There are many and sometimes, we can't compete with that. At the end of the day, we want players who want to come here."
THE GUARDIAN
Pep Guardiola claimed he still doesn't believe Manchester City can win the quadruple after his side reached the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win over Brighton on Saturday. Guardiola's men were well below their best in the Wembley semi-final, but Gabriel Jesus's early goal got the job done.
Guardiola coy over quadruple bid after City reach FA Cup
Sergio Aguero's hat-trick led Manchester City to a 3-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday and back into second place in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Liverpool.
Aguero hat-trick fires Man City to 3-1 win over Arsenal
Ryan Giggs has responded to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's criticism of the "Class of 92" by insisting players with "over 2,000 games between us" are entitled to have an opinion.
Ryan Giggs hits back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Class of '92
Ikhsan gets off mark in Norway His team were crying out for a saviour in Oslo, Norway, on Sunday and Ikhsan Fandi delivered. With one minute left and the game against Skeid tied at 2-2, five Raufoss IL players surged into the opponents' penalty box when Mikkel Maigaard whipped in a hopeful cross from the right.
Newspost
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard says team have 'hell of a lot of work to do' Facebook; League but said his team had work to do. them reformed in the bottom tier of Scottish football in 2012.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard says team have 'hell of a lot of
tv5.espn.com/football/rangers/story/3568985/rangers-boss-steven-gerrard-says-team-have-hell-of-a-lot-of-work-to-do
"I am pleased with the one side of the game, but there is certainly a hell of a lot of work to do on the other." The 38-year-old former Liverpool great singled out new centre-backs Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic, as well as returning goalkeeper Allan McGregor, for praise after the match at the Philip II Arena in the Macedonian capital.
Southgate: 'We have a hell of a lot of work to do' - Football365
winner | Malaysia News is a newsreader (RSS reader) providing a summary of headlines and latest news stories disseminated in the reliable news sources from Malaysia News. Malaysia News reads latest regional, national and local headlines in English and Melayu.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic fails to attend training for Paris Saint
BARCELONA: Lionel Messi received his record fifth Golden Shoe award for leading all of Europe's football leagues in scoring last season. Messi's fifth win breaks the tie he had with Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi scored 34 goals in La Liga last season to lead Barcelona to the title. Liverpool forward
Messi claims record 5th Golden Shoe - sportskeeda.com
Alexandria Villasenor, 13, skips school on Fridays to strike in the name of climate change. Every week, rain or shine, she sits on a bench in front of the United Nations, in New York City with her
Europe's Striking Climate Kids Show How to Defeat the Far
Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne will stand trial for sexual assault in October after allegedly kissing a woman without consent on a train, a judge ruled on Tuesday. The 51-year-old ex
Ex-football star faces assault trial - gulf-times.com
Tunisian media reported that officials were aware before the match that the VAR (video assistant referee) system was Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over VAR
Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over VAR
Jurgen Klopp said his Liverpool team could not have done anything more after they finished just one point behind defending champions Manchester City in their bid to win the Premier League title.
Klopp : Liverpool 'did all we could' in Premier League race
Football: Neymar's father says PSG extension more likely than
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