Pep aims cheeky dig at Man Utd by suggesting they could name a STAND as Berrada

Pep Guardiola claims Omar Berrada would deserve a stand named after him at Old Trafford if Manchester United's new chief executive revived their fortunes.

Berrada, an integral part of Manchester City's senior leadership team, shocked the Premier League champions by defecting to their rivals last weekend.

The Spaniard’s double act with sporting director Txiki Begiristain has helped City excel in the transfer market and Guardiola admitted he will be missed. But the City boss believes Berrada has his work cut out at United.

‘I don’t know if, by doing this, everything is going to be sorted and it works,’ Guardiola said.

‘Maybe United think that with this person, everything is going to change — congratulations. If it does happen, then my God, they have to make a stand for Omar Berrada in the future because he’d deserve it.

‘Kevin De Bruyne is still at Man City, Erling Haaland will keep playing here, so it’s not that simple like that.

‘Obviously Omar’s knowledge goes to United, that’s the reality. The club will move forward. We will adapt. I saw him yesterday, we hugged. I wish him the best because he’s a fantastic person.’

Guardiola also issued a strong response to Aleksander Ceferin after the UEFA president insisted that they were right to ban City from the Champions League in an interview with the Daily Telegraph this week.

City are under investigation for 115 alleged financial breaches by the Premier League. Guardiola suggested that Ceferin's background in law ought to have seen him keep his counsel while that is ongoing.

'As a lawyer as he is, the president of UEFA should wait,' Guardioa added.

'He has to respect it and wait. He has a lot to do at UEFA. Lawyers should respect the procedure. We have the right to defend ourselves.'