Facundo Pellistri has claimed that he and his girlfriend Cami Garcia ‘never’ see Manchester City shirts or flags in the city centre in a new interview.
The Manchester United starlet threw down the gauntlet for fans of his crosstown rivals ahead of the anticipated clash between the two sides on Sunday.
The 21-year-old was keen to stoke tensions between the two clubs and assert the long-held dominance of Erik ten Hag’s side.
United has taken the lion’s share of silverware flowing into the city, most recently during the decorated reign of Sir Alex Ferguson, but the ‘noisy neighbours’ have received much of the glory over the past decade, following their Abu Dhabi-backed takeover.
Pep Guardiola’s team put United noses out of joint at the end of the 2022-23 campaign when they matched their old foe’s historic treble, becoming the second English team to complete the feat since 1999.
Facundo Pellistri and his girlfriend Cami Garcia have spent time looking for Man City shirt in Manchester
The winger made the claim that Manchester remains a firmly ‘red’ city ahead of the derby
The 21-year-old joined Man United from Uruguayan side Penarol in 2020 (pictured in 2023)
But Pellistri stressed that despite recent triumphs, Manchester remains staunchly ‘red’.
‘Manchester is all about Manchester United,’ the winger claimed on Carve Deportiva radio. ‘You don’t see City shirts or flags.
‘Sometimes, with my girlfriend, we go out and say “let’s try and find one”, and we don’t see them.’
The bold statement prompted Mail Sport’s Jack Gaughan to levy the suggestion to City’s manager Guardiola during the Catalan coach’s press conference on Friday.
Refusing to appear ruffled by the claim, Guardiola responded in good humour, saying: ‘I will speak with the Puma department and say “what’s happened with the shirts?”
‘It’s okay. If this guy, and his girlfriend believe that, it’s fine.’
He was in a joking mood, asking cheekily when Gaughan suggested moving on to a more serious topic: ‘Are you saying it’s not serious what Pellistri said?’
‘The noisy neighbours’ Man City have enjoyed the lion’s share of triumphs over the past decade
But Pep Guardiola was unconcerned by the Uruguayan’s claim and laughed it off on Friday
Erik ten Hag will be looking to kick on after beating Copenhagen in Champions League
Guardiola’s mirth ahead of meeting Ten Hag’s side this weekend has roots in solid ground: the manager has the strongest record at Old Trafford in Premier League history, winning four of his seven ties at the ground.
Man City currently sit second in the table and just two points of league leaders Tottenham.
By contrast, United have had a stuttered start to their season, and sit six places below their rivals.
Ten Hag’s men will be keen to kick on from their midweek Champions League victory against Copenhagen at home.
