Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has revealed the role club legend Vincent Kompany played in the impending arrival of Sergio Gomez.
The Spanish full-back is poised to become the club's fourth summer signing, with a deal expected to be agreed over the weekend with his club Anderlecht. Despite talk of him potentially being loaned out, Guardiola insists the 21-year-old will be staying put. And he has spoken of how a recommendation from Burnley boss and ex-City skipper Kompany persuaded him to get the deal done.
Kompany coached the Belgian side between 2020 and this summer and spent a season with Gomez after signing him from Borussia Dortmund last year.
Guardiola said of Gomez: "He's so young, open to learn, I spoke with Vinny about him. He has to improve in some departments, that's why he's 21 and he's going to improve but he's perfect for what we need."
When quizzed on possibly loaning out Gomez, the City chief said: "Forget about it. The first action from the club was to sign him on loan - maybe Girona, maybe another club. But the moment we couldn't go through with (Marc) Cucurella because the club decide we wouldn't pay this amount of money for this player, I said okay, think about the idea we had before to loan Sergio.
"We spent time to watch him more. I said okay, it is perfect for everything - the price, young player, desire, okay go for it. The club, as always, did a perfect job.
"He (Gomez) was a No 10, like Zinchenko, now he’s adapted in that position. When that happens, [Johan] Cruyff told me all the time that when a winger can play at left-back they will be the best left-back. When a holding midfielder can play as a central defender, they will be the best central defender. I like when players come here that it’s a dream because they give everything for us."
Kompany has clearly kept an open dialogue with his old club, not only to provide advice on potential signings but also in bringing City talent to Turf Moor.
Of the 11 signings made by Kompany so far, three of them came directly from City. Goalkeeper Arijanet Muric and defender CJ Egan-Riley joined on permanent deals whilst Taylor Harwood-Bellis arrived on a season-long loan arrangement.
Friday night saw Kompany suffer his first loss as Clarets' boss, a 1-0 defeat away at Watford.
"I think first half they were better than us. We didn't concede chances as such, but we just couldn't get into our game," admitted Kompany. In the second half it was a totally different game. We were creating chances, we didn't let them play. We didn't really concede any chances throughout the game, but at the end you have got to get something out of this game and we didn't.
"We'll see how the rest [of the season] plays out, but we haven't gone under against anyone and with a very new squad that's an important sign."
