Guardiola claims Man City could not afford Kompany replacement

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has claimed he Premier League champions could not afford to replace club captain Vincent Kompany this summer.

The City manager is adamant that the club could not compete with the fees paid by some of their European rivals.

Could Man City not afford to replace Kompany? Five key things to know…

• Kompany left City this summer after 10 years at the Etihad.
• The Belgium star took over as player-manager at Anderlecht.
• The Citizens were linked with Harry Maguire as a potential replacement.
• Guardiola has claimed City could not afford the huge fees paid out by their rivals this summer.
• Aymeric Laporte injured his knee at the weekend, leaving Guardiola short of options.

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Kompany had become a symbol of the club’s success following a 10-year career laden with trophies and titles.

When he left, City were linked with Harry Maguire as a replacement but after spending £130m on the signs of Rodri, Joao Cancelo and Angelino, Guardiola has revealed the club could not afford to sanction another huge transfer fee.

Guardiola told the Evening Standard: “We could not buy like the opponents or teams offer us or ask for these players.

“Of course we spent a lot two seasons ago, but last season one player, this season a little bit more, so we could not pay the money wanted.

“But we have an alternative and sometimes when that happens, the team unites better and we are going to find solutions to do that.

“The club works incredibly well in all departments and sometimes we cannot afford it like other teams afford it and that is all. We pay a lot of money for a lot of players, that is why we have a depth of squad with huge quality, but we cannot do.

“The club tell me, you have a limit, you cannot go forward. Maybe in the future, but not now, you cannot do it.

“I say, OK, you cannot do it so we cannot do it so we are going with what we have.”

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‘We have enough to cope’

City are currently without defender John Stones, although the England international is expected to return from a thigh injury in the coming weeks.

Laporte will be a big loss to the champions and tests to ascertain the extent of the damage to his knee are currently ongoing. Leroy Sane is also out due to a serious ligament injury, but City’s players believe the team can cope with their mounting injury list.

“He’s a very important player for the team and it’s going to be tough without him,” said Spanish midfielder Rodri. “We’ve lost two big players. Leroy and now Aymer.”

“This is football, this is how it works, but I think we have enough in the team to cope with it.

“We have to support our team-mate, we hope he’s going to be back soon and we have to stay together to fix this kind of moment.

“It’s good that the team will be close and together. it’s what we have to do, there is nothing more we can do than that.”