Pep Guardiola Has Theory on Why Top Man City Players Are Quitting Etihad for Rival Clubs

• Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling headline a list of Manchester City players set to quit the Etihad Stadium this summer
• The two players have played an integral role in City's success in recent years under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola
• While many view the exits as a blow to Man City, Guardiola has vowed not to stand in the way of any player who intends to depart

Pep Guardiola has opened up on the imminent departure of key Manchester City players for rival clubs.

Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Nathan Ake are all expected to depart the Etihad Stadium this summer.

While Jesus is set to complete a move to Arsenal, the other three are projected to move to the blue side of London by linking up with Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge.

The Mirror reports that Chelsea are planning a swoop for three Man City players chief among them being Sterling.

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Pep Guardiola speaks on the imminent exit of key Man City players

Guardiola is said to fully understand the decision by some of his key players to dump City for moves elsewhere.

According to the Spaniard, he does not intend to stand in the way of any City player who is unhappy at the club.

"The most complicated thing to manage in a team is the players who do not play and to keep them happy. There’s no solution — that’s why good players leave their teams, because they want to play," Guardiola said as quoted by The Sun.

“I cannot retain a player who does not play just because he has a contract," he added.

SunSport reports that more players are expected to join the quartet in dumping the Citizens, with Bernado Silva linked with a move to Barcelona.

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On his part, back-up keeper Zack Steffen, is set to link up with Middlesbrough on a season-long loan as he bids to secure a place in USA's squad for the 2022 World Cup.

Enzo Maresca set to become Pep's assistant

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Manchester City are in line to acquire the services of Enzo Maresca to become Pep Guardiola's assistant at Etihad.

The former Italian footballer will be succeeding Juanma Lillo, who quit City to become the head coach of Qatar side, Al Sadd.

Lillo held the role for close to three years, having replaced Mikel Arteta, who departed City in 2019 to become Arsenal's manager.