Manchester City news: Pep Guardiola disappointed to lose Brahim Diaz to Real Madrid, but says it shows academy is ‘working really well’

Manchester City news: Pep Guardiola disappointed to lose Brahim Diaz to Real Madrid, but says it shows academy is ‘working really well’
Manchester City bossPep Guardiola believes Brahim Diaz’s departure for Real Madrid is a sign of good work being done by the club.City wanted the 19-year-old Spaniard to extend his contract with the club he been at since the age of 14, but admitted defeat this week and sold him to Madrid in a deal which could rise to 22m.2

Brahim Diaz completed his move to Real Madrid on Sunday

Asked if he was disappointed to lose Diaz, Guardiola said: “I said many times, we did with Brahim the same we did with Phil (Foden) and Jadon (Sancho), we did absolutely everything.“But in the end the only one who decides to stay is Phil, so that’s that.“He’s a nice guy and we wish him all the best.“Of course going to Real Madrid is not a bad step and hopefully he can get the minutes he didn’t get in the last period for many reasons.“On the other side, again, congratulations for our academy, they are working so well and in the end this is what happens.“Important teams in Europe want to sign our players, because it’s working really well.”Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Burton is the sort of match in which Diaz would have expected to make one of his rare first-team appearances.He scored a brace in the 2-0 win over Fulham back in November as the holders booked their spot in the quarter-finals.And Guardiola admitted it was too soon to say if his team might be short-handed if they continue to progress in several competitions.He added: “Hopefully not. With four competitions still, everybody will play, everybody will be involved.2

Pep Guardiola was disappointed to lose Diaz, but wished him all the best

“We have games every three or four days. We need everybody.”The League Cup was the first trophy Guardiola lifted in England last February, but he admitted it was low on the priority order.He explained: “Winning is important, we cannot deny it, we are here in the semi-finals and it’s one step to go back to Wembley, that’s why we take it seriously in that game once we are here.“It’s true the Carabao Cup is the more local competition.“Everybody is happy to win but nobody is sad if they go out in that competition. Once we are here, we are going to try.”

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