Pep Guardiola has no regrets over losing out to Arsenal in the bidding war for Declan Rice.
The Gunners snapped up the England midfielder for a British-record £105million fee after seeing off Manchester City’s competition for the one of the most anticipated signings of the summer transfer market.
City face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday and Guardiola praised his former assistant Mikel Arteta for bringing in Rice.
“Absolutely not,” he replied when asked if he had any regrets over City’s bid.
“Declan Rice decided to go to Arsenal, the offer was incredible. All the best [to him] because I think he’s a really important player. He’s a really nice guy and for the England national team he is and will be important.
“Arsenal bought an incredible, incredible player.”
Arsenal have splashed the cash this summer with Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber also reinforcing Arteta’s squad.
Guardiola noted how impressed he was by City’s rivals, while naming Newcastle as another team to invest heavily.
He continued: “Definitely, they didn’t buy players to make the squad bigger, they bought starting XI players.
“So they’re really good, all of them. I couldn’t expect differently, Newcastle have done it. Liverpool maybe less but with [Jordan] Henderson and Fabinho gone I think they will go to the market again, and [Manchester] United will do again.
“It’s normal. Every season they all want to do better, not just Man City.”
