Pep Guardiola is ‘in love’ with €80 million midfielder and wants Manchester City to sign him at ‘any cost’ | OneFootball

Manchester City have been linked with fresh interest in one of Italian football’s standout midfield stars, driven by personal admiration from manager Pep Guardiola.

The latest reports come as the Premier League champions look to come to terms with the lengthy absence of Rodri from the first-team set-up, after the Spain international sustained ligament damage in his right knee against Arsenal last weekend.

The 28-year-old has since travelled to Spain for further examination and opinion on the injury, with Manchester City yet to confirm how long the midfielder will be ruled out for as a result of the recovery plan that will be put into place.

Naturally, a number of reports have linked Manchester City with a long list of midfield solutions that could be explored in the January market, including Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, and Atalanta’s Ederson.

However, one report from Italian media has suggested that a recent opposition player that faced Manchester City in European competition could emerge as a transfer target, with interest driving specifically by Pep Guardiola himself.

According to the information of InterLive.it, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is ‘in love with’ Inter Milan and Italy international midfielder, Nicolo Barella and wants the midfielder ‘at any cost’.

It is claimed that the Catalan tactician appreciates the player’s profile and sees him as a ‘complete and strong midfielder’, believing that the 27-year-old would be ideal for his system at the Etihad Stadium.

However, and perhaps unsurprisingly given the talents of the player, it is suggested that Manchester City are facing competition from the likes of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and a few other English clubs.

However, it is pointed out that the Premier League champions would be in ‘pole position’ to sign the player, despite a previous report suggesting that the Nerazzurri would demand a transfer fee of ‘no less than €80 million’ from any potential suitor.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola referenced the talents of Nicolo Barella on multiple occasions when praising Inter Milan in the aftermath of the two sides’ 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium earlier this month.

Guardiola said during a recent press conference, “Inter Milan; a team I’ve never faced in many, many years, being so, so deep, and able to make transitions… With (Nicolo) Barella, (Hakan) Calhanoglu, make tak-tak, dribble dribble, (Alessandro) Bastoni, and after they run! I’ve never seen a team like that, and they made us suffer.”

This is not the first time that Manchester City have been tied to interest in the Italy international either, having been linked with the player following the clash in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul.