Pep Guardiola's response to Leeds interest in Nico O’Reilly revealed
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Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Fri 19 September 2025 17:08, UK
Pep Guardiola is adamant of keeping Nico O’Reilly at Man City despite interest from Leeds United in the talented 20-year-old.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson exclusively told Football Insider back in July that O’Reilly would follow Cole Palmer in leaving Man City.
The summer transfer window closed and the number 33 remained at the Etihad as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast that Guardiola holds the defender in very high regard.
Sources told Football Insider on 7 September that Guardiola’s job at Man City was assured after a mixed start to the 2025-26 campaign.
The Cityzens will now look to fend off suitors for O’Reilly such as Leeds to hold on to the exciting youngster who continues to flourish in Manchester.
Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media
Despite finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively telling Football Insider in February that Man City would be open to offers of £40million for O’Reilly, the Englishman does not appear to be going anywhere in the near future.
The number 33 has enjoyed semi-regular minutes in the first team and has ignored the temptation of a move to another team where his game time could be more secure such as Leeds.
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Speaking on the Inside Track podcast over City‘s management of the defender’s long-term future ahead of the January transfer window, I explained: “I’m sure obviously if Nico O’Reilly became available in the market, it wouldn’t just be Leeds looking at him.
“He remains highly rated at the Etihad and I think Pep Guardiola still sees him as an important part of his long-term plans.
Pep Guardiola won’t be looking to lose any more of his players in January.
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“He’ll be looking to keep all of them, especially with City fighting for honours on all fronts, the Premier League, the Champions League and everything else.
“I don’t think Pep Guardiola will want to weaken his squad and, as I said, O’Reilly, I’m sure there will be a number of clubs interested in him, but I think he still has a big role to play for City this coming season.”
Sources told Football Insider on 14 September that Leeds are prioritising a wide attacker instead of a striker in the January transfer window.
The Peacocks have scored just one goal in four Premier League matches as they pivot away from defensive reinforcements to desperately improve their lousy attack.
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The time constraints of the January transfer window would see the Whites cooling their pursuit of O’Reilly as they look for improved wide options to build upon Willy Gnonto and Noah Okafor.
City’s Spanish manager can feel calmer about the long-term security of the 20-year-old defender moving forward with teams retracting their interest as the number 33 looks to continue to be one of Guardiola’s dependable men.