Brahim Diaz future: Pep Guardiola unable to offer Manchester City starlet first-team assurances as Real Madrid lurk

Diaz scored twice to send Fulham out of the EFL Cup.
Getty Images

Pep Guardiola has urged Brahim Diaz to sign a new contract – but still won’t offer him any assurances over his first team prospects.

The 19-year-old will be a free agent at the end of the season and can talk to interested clubs abroad from January, with Real Madrid monitoring his situation.

After watching Diaz score both goals in Manchester City’s 2-0 EFL Cup fourth round win against Fulham, Guardiola insisted he wants the Spaniard to commit his future to the Etihad – but admitted he faces a fight to break through.

“He knows the desire we want for all young players,” said the City manager. “They know how we want to protect them. He understands the way we want to play. We want him.

In Pictures | Manchester City vs Fulham | 01/11/18

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“But it doesn’t depend on us. It is the desire of them. We insist we want him, but it’s the agent, him, family, they decide.”

Brahim is represented by Guardiola’s brother Pere – but that has not been enough to convince the teenager to sign a new contract.

It is understood the attacking midfielder is seeking assurances that he will be offered a pathway to the first team – but Guardiola, who wanted to send him on loan this season, was frank about his chances of regular football in the near future.

“My opinion is not changed because of two goals or because he was not selected in any Premier League games,” he said. “The opinion is so high. But in the top teams like here, to compete with Leroy (Sane), Raz (Sterling), Bernardo (Silva), Sergio (Aguero), Gabriel (Jesus), it is not easy to find space.

“He knew that in the beginning, he decided to stay and we are delighted with him. We will do absolutely everything to keep him with us, but after that he decides. It’s simple.”

Real Madrid are among the sides monitoring Diaz’ situation after being heavily-linked with him when he was first emerging at City’s academy.

Despite being considered one of the brightest prospects at the club, the game against Fulham was only his second appearance of the season, with both coming in the EFL Cup.

Guardiola insists that is just a fact of life at a top club.

“There are no words to explain how tough it is (to leave people out),” he said. “I explained it to them. They make my job so easy on one side, because it’s a joy to train them, but at the same time it’s so difficult.

“When you see Fabian Delph doesn’t play, Danilo - a huge performance he did today, defensively and offensively, how clever he was with the ball. Gabriel, how he fought for every single ball and created space. Everybody.

“I said four names but I could say 11. It is what it is. There is a lot of competitions and winter is coming when it’s so complicated, but everybody is going to play.”

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