Guardiola denies links with Neymar: 'Man City bought 150 players every summer'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has denied rumors linking the English champions to a swap deal for Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain.

French newspaper Le Parisien reported that PSG offered Neymar to City in a swap deal earlier in the off-season which would have seen Bernardo Silva go the other way.

According to the report, City declined the offer but Guardiola clarified that the story was not accurate.

"I'm so sorry for Le Parisien, but that's not true," Guardiola told reporters in Houston ahead of their preseason game against Club America on Wednesday.

"I feel sorry for them because the information they received is wrong.

"Neymar is an incredible player and according to my information, he is a nice guy. Let him express himself in Paris.

"Manchester City bought 150 players every summer, and that's not true. I feel sorry for Neymar, of course."

It was reported this off-season that PSG had put 30-year-old Neymar on the market, while Guardiola reiterated his belief Bernardo would stay at City last month amid Barcelona links.

City have landed several key players this off-season, with new signings Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, Julian Alvarez and Stefan Ortega Moreno, while Bernardo has established himself as a pivot player in City's midfield.