Pep Guardiola’s club-record offer for ‘world’s best midfielder’ immediately rejected as Barcelona stand firm.
In a dramatic late-window move, Manchester City have submitted a monumental £173 million bid to sign Barcelona midfielder Pedri, according to reports from Spain. The offer, described as “jaw-dropping,” was immediately rejected by the Catalan club, who have no intention of parting with their prized asset.
Pep Guardiola, a long-time admirer of the 23-year-old Spanish international, is understood to have personally driven the audacious attempt to bring Pedri to the Etihad. The bid comes as City look to reinforce their midfield in anticipation of captain Bernardo Silva’s likely summer departure, aiming to pair Pedri with Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders.
The move, reported by Fichajes, represents a club-record offer from the Premier League giants. Pedri, hailed as “the best midfielder in the world” by Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos, has been a cornerstone of Barcelona’s team since his arrival from Las Palmas in 2020 and remains central to manager Hansi Flick’s plans.
Despite Barcelona’s well-documented financial struggles, the club’s response was swift and definitive. Sources indicate the leadership “immediately shut the door” on negotiations, with Flick vehemently opposing any sale. Barcelona views Pedri as indispensable to their future sporting success and is unwilling to consider him as a solution to their economic challenges.
For his part, Pedri is said to be very happy at the Camp Nou and is not expected to push for a move. The prospect of reuniting with Guardiola, who is convinced the Spaniard would flourish in his system, presented a fascinating “what if” scenario—one that could have transformed City into even stronger favorites for the Premier League and Champions League.
With the bid firmly rebuffed, City’s focus now returns to a tight title race where they sit second, seven points behind Arsenal with a game in hand. The attempted raid on Guardiola’s boyhood club underscores City’s ambition, but for now, Barcelona’s “non-negotiable” star remains exactly where he is.
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