Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has insisted that goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is happy at the club and will not be leaving any time soon.
The Chilean international has endured a tough start to life in England, with many criticising his performances while he has kept just two clean sheets in his last 14 games.
As noted by The Independent, the £17m signing from Barcelona has been linked with a quick return to Spain just four months after leaving the Camp Nou, even if it means being Luis Enrique’s back-up option.
However, Guardiola has moved to dismiss that theory and is adamant that Bravo will remain with the club having had a chance to speak with him this week and check up on how his family is settling in Manchester.
“I don’t read too much of newspapers, of the Twitters and Instagrams and Facebooks,” he responded to the media on Friday.
“I spoke with Bravo in the last days, and with his wife as well. I saw him here. Their little daughter as well, but I couldn’t speak with her because she is just one year old. I couldn’t speak with her. And he told me he is so happy.”
It remains to be seen whether or not the situation stays that way, as with City toiling in fourth place in the Premier League and now seven points adrift of leaders Chelsea, the pressure will be growing on everyone at the club.
Bravo will have to start delivering clean sheets, with the help of his defence of course, as that has certainly been a major vulnerability about Guardiola’s side so far this season.