Manchester City are close to agreeing a deal to sell Ferran Torres to Barcelona and Pep Guardiola has insisted they will not sign a striker in January if he goes.
Guardiola believes it is hard for Spanish players to turn down Real Madrid and Barcelona and insisted he will never stand in the way of a player who wants to leave City.
But though he did not replace Sergio Aguero when City’s record goalscorer went to Camp Nou in the summer, he is prepared to let Torres leave without bringing in another attacker as well.
City are set to make a sizeable profit on the 21-year-old, who joined from Valencia last year, has scored 16 goals for them and has become Spain’s first-choice centre-forward.
Torres became a target for Barcelona even before a heart condition forced Aguero to retire and Guardiola said: “I hear it is really close. No, I am not getting to bring a striker in January.
“Always I have the feeling that when Barcelona or Real Madrid knock on the door of players then it is difficult to say no. So difficult. They are still the strongest teams in the world in terms of fashion, cities and many reasons. He is from Spain, Barcelona knock and I understand.
“When he knocked on my door and said, ‘I want to leave,’ I said, ‘leave.’ I cannot convince the players to do something when their mind isn’t here. It makes no sense. If you believe you will be happier in another place, you have to go. The career is short, in one day it is over. If the clubs reach an agreement, I am happy for him.”
Guardiola’s forward options were reduced for Sunday’s 4-0 win at Newcastle when he chose to leave Jack Grealish and Phil Foden as unused substitutes after they were pictured on a night out following the 7-0 thrashing of Leeds.
The City manager did not confirm if they are back in contention to start against Leicester on Sunday but argued that professionalism on and off the pitch is still more significant now and will help each play for longer.
Newcastle 0 Manchester City 4: player ratings
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Jacob Murphy - 6: Both of Newcastle’s full-backs are out-of-position wingers but did a fine job keeping Sterling relatively quiet. Skinned by Jesus ahead of fourth goal. AFP -
Ciaran Clark - 4: First game since brainless sending off against Norwich and gifted opening goal to Dias after five minutes when, incredibly, he decided not to head away cross. Failed to close down and then turned his back on Cancelo strike for City's second. AFP -
Matt Ritchie - 6: Did fine job on Mahrez for 64 minutes … then lost Algerian who volleyed home third goal. Excellent ball down left to put Saint-Maximin away on run at start of second half. EPA -
Isaac Hayden - 6: Deserved booking minutes for foul on De Bruyne and now suspended for next game. Left on backside by Cancelo ahead of second goal. Headed corner wide when should have done better in eventful first half for midfielder. AFP -
Ryan Fraser - 5: Had shot cleared off line in first half that would have been chalked off anyway for Hayden foul. Should have earned Newcastle penalty after being brought down by Ederson but somehow not given by referee or VAR. Reuters -
Joe Willock - 4: Left for dead by one piece of Silva quality in first half and then by another from Cancelo before second goal. Hooked at half-time and struggling badly for form this season. PA -
Joelinton - 6: Drilled shot just wide of target from edge of box in 12th minute and good ball into feet of Wilson late in opening half. Brazilian is certainly playing better under Eddie Howe than he ever did under predecessor Steve Bruce – but still lacks cutting edge in terms of goals or assists. EPA -
SUBS: Allan Saint-Maximin – (On for Willock 46’) 5: Nearly found Wilson with ball into middle minutes into second half but was his usual mix of dangerous running and wasteful final balls. EPA -
Sean Longstaff – (On for Hayden 61’) 5: Sporting a dubious moustache, Geordie midfielder couldn’t change game City were already dominating. EPA -
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 6: Beaten by Joelinton shot that flew just wide early on and lucky not to concede first-half penalty after clumsy challenge on Fraser. Not the most convincing of days dealing with crosses but one brilliant save from Wilson header. Reuters -
Ruben Dias - 8: Free header to open scoring after woeful Newcastle defending and should have had second but flicked header wide after break. Reuters -
Rodri - 7: Booked for cynical foul on Willock in first half but strolled through rest of match with little problem, sitting in front of defence and such was City’s dominance Pep Guardiola was able to give him a rest in second half. PA -
Kevin De Bruyne - 7: Lucky to get away with one after 15 minutes when lost possession in own box, handing chance to Fraser but dubious foul given. No repeat of his brilliant double against Leeds last time out but a fine, controlled passing performance from the Belgian. Reuters -
Bernardo Silva - 8: Tremendous run past two players to set-up chance for Zinchenko that Ukrainian wasted. Booked for taking down Joelinton. Superlative tracking back in last 10 minutes to take ball off toes of Wilson in City penalty area. AFP -
Riyad Mahrez - 7: Strangely subdued in first half but volleyed home emphatically after 64 minutes from excellent Zinchenko ball for his 50th City goal. EPA -
Raheem Sterling - 7: In top form at moment but very little influence in opening half. Shanked volley well wide at start of second before stinging hands of keeper with curling effort just before hour. Tapped home fourth goal from close range. EPA -
SUBS: Fernandinho – (On for Rodri 68’) 6: Match was well and truly won by the time veteran came on, although he was beaten to one header by Wilson that needed save from Ederson. AFP -
John Stones – (On for Dias 70’) 6: Nice and easy time to come on with score at 3-0. EPA -
Cole Palmer – (On for Mahrez 77’) N/A. Would have made it 5-0 but couldn’t get ball out from under feet and chance went begging. AFP
Guardiola added: “They are not rules. I am not the police, telling them what they have to do. Everyone is old enough and experienced enough to know what they have to. We are living [in] special circumstances in our lives that everyone cannot live free like they did in the past due to the pandemic.
“In this type of career, the work you do on and off the pitch is the same importance. It’s so demanding physically and mentally. You have to live for your profession: all the time, every single second. Otherwise, guys that are going to live every single day this profession are going to sustain longer in it.”
Guardiola believes that, while it will not happen, footballers and managers should go on strike to ensure that player welfare and workload is addressed properly.
The City manager’s gripe is not with the Christmas fixture list, but the permanent overload of a calendar with international tournaments every summer, meaning players only get two or three weeks’ holiday, and with the Premier League, for not allowing clubs in England to make five substitutions per game.
“The players and managers should all together make a strike,” he said. “The words alone are not going solve it. It's not necessary to do it we talk about the welfare just for the players and the associations say we don't play any more until we solve that situation.
“The simplest example is that all around the world they have five substitutions, here it's still three. Tell me one argument to take care of players' welfare [better] than this one. But you have to decide for the broadcaster, for the Premier League, for the rest to take decisions on behalf of the welfare of the players. This is not going to happen.”
Manchester City 7 Leeds 0: player ratings
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MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson 6 - The Brazilian could have used a deck chair for the majority of the game as he watched his team completely dominate the game. EPA -
Oleksandr Zinchenko 7 - Got forward on the left flank to stretch the Leeds defence, and that opened up plenty of space for City’s attacking players in the middle of the park. Getty -
Aymeric Laporte 7 - Brought the ball out of defence when the opportunity presented itself and didn’t allow Leeds attacks to develop on the rare occasion that the ball got worked into City’s defensive third. EPA -
Ruben Dias 7 - Played aggressively to be first to the ball and pressed high to help maintain lengthy spells of pressure for City. AP -
John Stones 7- Caught in no mans land close to halftime which presented Leeds with their best attack of the first period, but was solid other than that. Got on the scoresheet. Getty -
Rodri 8 - Involved in all of City’s best attacking moves as Rodri looked to advance and challenge Leeds defence. Picked out De Bruyne after half of an hour for City’s third of the game. AFP -
Kevin De Bruyne 9 - Pulled the strings from the middle of the park and got himself a brace with a left-foot finish and a thunderous strike on his stronger side. Reuters -
Bernardo Silva 6 - Silva has been in great form this season but he has to do much better with his chance, placing wide with an empty net to aim at. Reuters -
Jack Grealish 7 - The £100million man is finally back among the goals and took his header in the manner of an assured targetman. EPA -
Phil Foden 8 - Reacted quickest when Meslier pushed the ball out into the dangerzone and had some luck to see his effort fail to be cleared by Stuart Dallas. Close to getting a second but was marginally offside. AFP -
Riyad Mahrez 8 - A well delivered cross saw Mahrez ease the ball into the danger area for Grealish to head home. Got on the scoresheet courtesy of a wicked deflection. A threat for the full 90 minutes. EPA -
SUBS: Ilkay Gundogan (Silva, 46’) 7 - Quickly involved and was unlucky not to score when guiding the ball just past the post. Linked play well to maintain City’s dominance. Reuters -
Fernandinho (Rodri, 56’) 7 - An enjoyable outing for Fernandinho who came on and kept things simple as his team cruised to victory. Reuters -
Nathan Ake (Dias, 65’) 7 - On for Dias and found the back of the net for the seventh. PA -
LEEDS RATINGS: Illan Meslier 3 - His goal was peppered throughout the match as he watched his defensive line make needless mistakes, and it’s hard to give anything more than a three after conceding seven times. EPA -
Junior Firpo 3 - Lost the ball in some dangerous areas and struggled to cope with the threat of Mahrez. Unlucky to be involved in City’s fourth after a deflection sent the ball past his own goalkeeper. Getty -
Diego Llorente 3- A shocking pass was picked off but the centre-back was relieved to see Silva miss an open goal from the resulting play. Looked messy at times when isolated. Getty -
Luke Ayling 3 - The defender was beaten by Rodri too easily for the opening goal. The tackle looked lacklustre, and he then stood still instead of trying to react to the next phase of play. AP -
Jamie Shackleton 3 - A tough night at the office before Shackleton was withdrawn for Mateusz Klich. AFP -
Adam Forshaw 4 - Struggled with the opponent’s movement as Manchester City’s midfield took full control of the game. EPA -
Jack Harrison 5 - Had space in the box during the second half but got the final decision all wrong to give possession straight back to City. AP -
Tyler Roberts 5 - Worked hard and tried to get Leeds moving in the right direction, only for his final ball to let him down. EPA -
Stuart Dallas 5 - A poor attempted clearance did little to divert Phil Foden’s shot away from the goal for the opener, but almost made amends with an excellent strike that struck the post. Getty -
Raphinha 4 - Too wasteful on the ball on the night, though the Brazilian winger wasn’t helped by the lack of impetus Leeds showed when attacking as a team. PA -
Daniel James 5 - Largely a spectator throughout the match from a stranded position upfront. The 24-year-old had no service at all on the night and was replaced at the break. AP -
SUBS: Mateusz Klich (Shackleton 38) 6 - Looked bright when deployed in midfield and began some attacks by getting the ball down and transitioning it forward. AFP -
Gelhardt (James, 46) 5 - Showed intensity when on the ball, but the young striker found the same issues as James when introduced - a complete lack of service. Cody Dramer (Firpo, 73) N/R - Introduced for Firpo in the 73rd minute. Getty
