Alonso's impact at Leverkusen 'unbelievable' - Guardiola

Pep Guardiola does not tend to give much away in his news conferences and it is often difficult to tease a decent top line out of him.

However, shortly before he faced the media on Friday, breaking news flashed up on the television screens at Manchester City's training ground saying Xabi Alonso is set to leave Bayer Leverkusen.

Guardiola signed his fellow Spaniard for Bayern Munich in 2014 and the pair won two Bundesliga titles together.

Last year, former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Alonso led Leverkusen to the double of a Bundesliga title - without losing a game - and the German Cup in his first full season as a senior club manager.

Guardiola was full of praise when asked to give his reaction to the news.

"Wow, his impact on Leverkusen has been unbelievable," he said. "I think all the managers who had the opportunity and the pleasure to have him as a player always realised that he would be a manager.

"Going to Germany and fighting with Bayern Munich is always so difficult. Last season they were unbeaten except for the last game against Atalanta in the Europa League final.

"The way they played, the way he improved the players - I think Leverkusen themselves have to be so proud of the partnership that they had for just three years."