Monday 28 January 2019 14:18, UK
Pep Guardiola has defended Manchester City's transfer policy after Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde criticised their pursuit of Frenkie De Jong.
After completing a £75m move from Ajax to Barcelona, De Jong told Dutch broadcaster NOS he had spurned interest from French champions Paris Saint Germain, adding he had also "spoke with Guardiola about a move to Man City".
Valverde then suggested City had acted improperly by holding talks with De Jong, saying it is wrong to "call a player who already has a contract".
Guardiola initially refused to speak about Valverde's comments in his press conference on Monday, before saying "Ernesto is my friend so no problem".
"It's over. It's not our business. Now we focus on the Newcastle game [on Tuesday]."
Guardiola has previously questioned City's ability to compete with the likes of Barcelona in the transfer market, but insisted he has no issue with the club's recruitment system.
"I'm not involved in the negotiations of the players, I give my opinion, we do our best, I'm so satisfied," he said.
"The club is incredible, working perfectly. Sometimes the players come, sometimes they go to another place.
"It's not the first time it's happened, it will not be the last. It's no problem at all.
"All the big clubs sometimes decide [to pursue] common players. The reality is what it is. We accept sometimes it is not possible. We have enough players to play tomorrow with 11 players on the pitch."
Guardiola confirmed Schalke's interest in Manchester City 18-year-old winger Rabbi Matondo, with the Bundesliga side understood to have had an £8.6m bid rejected.
"I do not know if the deal is going to finish," he said. "I know how good he is. He's a winger, so fast, incredibly quick and a young talent."
City have lost young starlets Jadon Sancho and Brahim Diaz to Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid respectively.
"All the players in the academy - we trust in them," he said. "If they want to leave they leave. No problem."
