Jorginho ‘an exceptional player’ – Guardiola

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted he missed out on an “exceptional player” in Jorginho.

City tried to sign the Italy midfielder from Napoli but he opted for a move to Chelsea.

Jorginho played under Maurizio Sarri at Napoli and Chelsea’s new head coach was keen to be reunited with him at Stamford Bridge.

“I’m not disappointed. We tried,” Guardiola said at a press conference in Chicago – City are spending part of their pre-season campaign in the United States.

“My advice for all players is they have to go where they want to go, and in the end it would have been a mistake for him and for us if he’d decided to come here when he wanted to go with Maurizio and Chelsea.

“English football receives an exceptional player. All the best for him.”