Manchester United paid £80m to sign Harry Maguire with Premier League rivals Manchester City instead putting their faith in youth.
The rapid rise of Taylor Harwood-Bellis convinced Manchester City to back away from a world-record deal for Harry Maguire, according to Goal.
This summer, an England international became the most expensive centre-back in the history of the game.
Manchester United paid a staggering £80 million to lure Maguire away from Leicester City and, while Pep Guardiola was a big fan of a player who has that perfect blend of physical and technical ability, City eventually decided against matching their rivals’ offer.
Fans and pundits alike have jumped on the bandwagon with John Stones and Aymeric Laporte ruled out for an extended period with City criticised for their failure to add more depth to a rather flimsy backline.
But there is method to the madness, as there always is with Guardiola.
According to Goal, 17-year-old Taylor Harwood-Bellis could make his senior debut for the Premier League champions in Tuesday’s EFL Cup clash away at Preston North End, having impressed the former Barcelona boss in pre-season with his maturity and composure on the ball.
“I was impressed,” Guardiola told Goal after the teenager started in a 4-1 victory against West Ham United. “I didn’t know him very well but in pre-season in China, Taylor was so good.”
Guardiola is never scared to give youth a chance, having introduced Pedro, Sergio Busquets and co to the watching world at Barcelona, and Goal believes that Harwood-Bellis was a major factor in City’s decision to step back from Maguire.
And that speaks volumes about the potential of a Stockport-born youngster.
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