Pep Guardiola dismisses speculation Kylian Mbappe could join Man City

Pep Guardiola has ruled Manchester City out of signing PSG‘s wantaway striker Kylian Mbappe, telling reporters ‘you know where he wants to go.’

The Frenchman put elite clubs around the globe on high alert when it was confirmed last week that he would be extending his contract in Paris, making him a free agent next summer.

That move would in theory open the door for more clubs to entertain the possibility of purchasing one of the best players in the world and though Manchester City are in no way affected by that plight, Guardiola still believes the race to sign the Frenchman has already been won.

‘We will not sign Kylian Mbappe,’ he told reporters at a recent Puma Legends Trophy event. ‘he’s not joining Man City — all of you know where he wants to go,’

The 24-year-old would have been plying his trade in Madrid for the past season had he not completed an incredible u-turn in the 11th hour to stay with the Parisians.

Pep Guardiola believes the race to sign the 24-year-old World Cup winner is already run

Real Madrid’s marquee signing of this summer was Jude Bellingham, who joined for £113m

However, after a couple more years of failure in the Champions League, the superstar seems ready to move elsewhere.

Mbappe’s compatriot Karim Benzema left the Bernabeu for Saudi Arabia at the start of the window, clearing the way for PSG’s all-time leading scorer to lead the line in the Spanish capital.

But having already shelled out £113m to bring Jude Bellingham to the club, Madrid look set to snap up Mbappe on a free transfer next season.

As for City, the prospect of pairing the striker who became only the second man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, with Erling Haaland is frightening.

The recent treble winners are drawing closer to a deal for Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic that could signal the imminent departure of Ilkay Gundogan.