Selling him for just £20m to a Premier League rival was deep mistake – Pep Guardiola 

Selling him for just £20m to a Premier League rival was deep mistake – Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Manchester City FC at St James’ P…

 

Manchester City ran out 1-0 winners against Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.

 

 

City went top of the table with the win, and remain unbeaten this season.

 

In the end, it was a scoreline that few probably saw coming. Southampton have struggled so far and went into that game at the Etihad Stadium having not yet won.

 

That remains the case, but the Saints gave a decent account of themselves and fared much better than some teams will at the Etihad this season.

 

Part of the reason Southampton were not thrashed by Manchester City was because Taylor Harwood-Bellis put in a really solid display at the back.

 

Hawrood-Bellis was sold by City in the summer, with Southampton buying him for £20 million via an automatic clause as a result of their promotion.

 

After the game, Pep Guardiola heaped the praise on the young defender on his return to the Etihad.

 

Pep Guardiola hails Taylor Harwood-Bellis after Man City’s win over Southampton

Taylor Harwood-Bellis of Southampton gestures during the warm up prior to the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Leicester City FC at …

Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Harwood-Bellis was making his 10th appearance for Southampton this season against City.

 

 

He has been heavily involved for Russell Martin’s side so far, playing 771 minutes.

 

It was always going to be hard for Harwood-Bellis to break through at City, given the superb centre-back options Guardiola has had at his disposal over the last few years.

 

 

But the Manchester City manager clearly rates Harwood-Bellis given his post-match comments.

 

 

He said (via mancity.com): “I’m so happy for him because he’s a lovely guy.

 

“I’m happy that he’s settling in the Premier League. He’s an incredible threat for Southampton from set pieces and a composer when they have the ball because the manager insists the way they have to play, they have to be close, to move differently.”

 

A big compliment for Harwood-Bellis

It was absolutely brilliant to see Harwood-Bellis returning to the Etihad as a full-fledged Premier League player on Saturday.

 

He had long been a young player City were really excited about, and he actually did make eight first-team appearances for the club.

 

In the end, though, the decision was made by City to insert an automatic purchase clause if Southampton gained promotion to the top-flight, and of course, that came to pass.

 

 

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Ultimately, the competition was just a bit too much for Harwood-Bellis to become another Phil Foden or Rico Lewis.

 

He will take great heart from Guardiola’s comments though.

 

It may be that City could end up regretting selling Harwood-Bellis. He certainly looks extremely comfortable at Premier League level, and is a fantastic ball-player which is one trait required of any centre-back playing for City these days.