Marc Guehi has explained his decision to join Man City only months after seeing a transfer to Liverpool collapse
Marc Guehi has claimed he has joined ‘the best club in England’ after completing an initial £20m move to Man City, only months after seeing a summer move to Liverpool blocked on transfer deadline day. The Reds had agreed a £35m deal to sign the England international, only to see Crystal Palace cancel the switch at the 11th hour after failing to sign a replacement.
The reigning Premier League champions had remained interested in Guehi, and were looking to sign him on a free transfer next summer when his contract with the Eagles was due to expire.
But City made a mid-season move for the Palace captain after losing both Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias to injury.
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Liverpool decided against making their own January move for Guehi, despite their previous agreed deal with the defender, with the ECHO understanding that the Reds did not consider signing the England international this month as a market opportunity compared to last September and this coming summer.
And Guehi has now rubbed salt into Liverpool wounds as he shared his delight at moving to the Etihad following the completion of his transfer.
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“I am really happy and incredibly proud to be a Manchester City player,” he told club media. “This move feels like the culmination of all the hard work I have put into my career.
“I am now at the best club in England and part of an unbelievable squad of players. It feels good to be able to say that.
“I want to grow as a player and a person, and I know at this club that’s going to happen. I love football – it has given me so much for so long – and to be able to continue my development at Manchester City is a really special moment for me and my family.
“I absolutely cannot wait to get started now. I want to meet my teammates, train hard, understand what the manager expects of me and then show the City fans what I can do.
“It’s such an honour, such a big club to come and play for. For me, I have always just been obsessed with getting better and wanting to improve and that’s something I am constantly striving for and this is the perfect place for me to do that.
“I have heard so much about the club and the fans, the players speak for themselves, the manager.
“It’s definitely the right environment for me to improve and just get better. Hopefully I can bring what I have to the table to help every single person here too.”
He continued: “(It’s been) Absolute domination (from City) to be honest and it’s been great to see where the club has come from. The growth and continued growth which the club wants to go for and strive for which is amazing.
“I am someone who just wants to come in and help and do his part and see how far the club can continue to grow.
“It’s a squad with an amazing experience within it, with so many players that have played at such a high level and won so many things but also with so many exciting young players who have come into the squad to do their best as well.
“There’s the arrival of Antoine (Semenyo) who is an amazing player and who has proven himself in the Premier League. It’s fantastic.
“I just want to come in and help and just do my part, be one of the lads and just try and improve.”
