EPL: Why Rice rejected Manchester City for Arsenal switch – Guardiola

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has confirmed that Declan Rice made the decision to join Arsenal from West Ham amid intense interest from both Premier League clubs.

The talented England midfielder was a highly sought-after player this summer, with both Arsenal and City vying for his signature. City even made a substantial £90 million bid, which was rejected by West Ham, before Arsenal came back with an offer exceeding £100 million to secure Rice’s services.

Guardiola believes that Rice will be a significant asset for their Premier League rivals and has expressed his admiration for the player’s talent. Despite City’s interest, Rice ultimately chose to play under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

“Rice decided on Arsenal, so all the best to him. He’s an important player, a very nice guy, and he will be a crucial figure for England. As for Arsenal, they have secured an incredible player,” Guardiola said during his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield final at Wembley.