Pep Guardiola: 'John Stones will not be sold by Manchester City'

Pep Guardiola has stressed that John Stones will not be sold while he remains in charge at Manchester City.

The England defender has not featured for the Premier League champions since the beginning of March after picking up an abductor injury on international duty.

In addition, the arrival of club record signing Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao has added to the competition within the Man City backline.

However, the Citizens moved to play down reports earlier this week that the former Everton defender could leave this summer and Guardiola gave a blunt reply when asked about the player's future.

"I don't know how people believe we're going to sell John Stones," Guardiola is quoted by The Telegraph as saying. "He is a young player, an international English player. He's a huge part of the reason why we won the title.

"I don't know how long I will be here in Manchester, but as long as I'm here, John Stones will be with us. When he is injured and comes back, injured and comes back, injured and comes back, sometimes it's not easy.

"I'm sorry for the guys who announce we're going to want to sell him. I'm sorry – they lie. I'm not going to comment on the transfers when it's fake news."

Stones has made 68 appearances for Man City since his 2016 move from Goodison Park.