Khaldoon Al Mubarak on City's next manager, Guardiola's exit and summer transfer plans

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has spoken publicly about the club’s managerial search, Pep Guardiola’s exit, and the summer transfer window in an interview with club media, touching on several of the key storylines surrounding the Etihad heading into the new season.

On Guardiola, Al Mubarak was candid about the nature of their long working relationship, revealing the Spaniard had told him he was leaving “100 times” before he finally departed the club this summer after nine trophy-laden years in charge.

A new permanent manager has yet to be officially confirmed, but Al Mubarak indicated supporters would not be waiting long, promising an update on the situation “very soon”.

The chairman reserved particular praise for academy graduate Nico O’Reilly, saying he was “very proud” of the youngster and that the recognition of the “incredible talent” being developed within City’s academy had been a source of genuine satisfaction.

Al Mubarak also addressed the prospect of Bernardo Silva leaving the club this summer, describing the Portuguese midfielder as being in the “top one or top two in almost so many different categories in the history of this club” — a notable tribute that underlines how highly the 30-year-old is regarded internally despite ongoing speculation over his future.

John Stones received similarly warm words, with the chairman stating the England centre-back had been “one of the best, if not the best, centre-half in the world” for a considerable period.

New signing Rayan Cherki was also highlighted, with Al Mubarak describing the French midfielder as a “special player” who has made an immediate impression since joining the club.

On the transfer window, Al Mubarak pushed back on suggestions that the Club World Cup was complicating sporting director Hugo Viana’s planning. “No, I don’t think it makes it more or less complicated,” he said. “I think it’s part of the game, it’s part of the business. We know how to deal with it, Hugo knows how to deal with it. We know what we want, we know what we need and we know how to go about it.”