Manager Pep Guardiola has claimed that agent Mino Raiola attempted to engineer a transfer involving Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and Manchester City.

Pogba has recently been linked with an exit from Old Trafford after finding himself in and out of Jose Mourinho's starting lineup, with Real Madrid seemingly the most likely to sign the French international should he leave United.

However, Guardiola has suggested that City were given the opportunity to make an approach for Pogba - and Henrikh Mkhitaryan - by Raiola, who has previously referred to Guardiola as "a dog".

The 47-year-old is quoted by The Guardian as saying: "I will answer him; I don't understand why I am. Finally, the people discover my secrets – a bad guy. I'm a coward. I don't understand why I am a so bad guy. I never speak with him so his opinion, I don't know. But being a guy who two months ago offered me Mkhitaryan and Pogba to play with us. Why?

"Why he offer? He was interested in Mkhitaryan and Pogba to play with us? So he has to protect his players and has to know he cannot bring the players to a guy like me, like a dog. And comparing a dog is bad. It's not good. He has to respect the dogs."

City play host to United in the Manchester derby on Saturday evening.