Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has said that every club in the Premier League would want to have Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice at their disposal.
Rice was heavily linked with a move to Man City last summer, and the Citizens, at one stage, were believed to have been the favourites to sign him from West Ham United.
However, Arsenal ultimately secured a deal for the England international, who captained his country in their friendly with Belgium last week.
The 25-year-old has been a vital player for the Gunners this season, featuring on 39 occasions in all competitions, scoring six goals and registering seven assists in the process.
Guardiola said that "all the teams in the Premier League would have signed Declan Rice" ahead of Sunday's huge contest between Man City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
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"Sometimes here we have many players we wanted and they didn't decide to join us," Guardiola told reporters. "He's not the first one who we wanted who didn't join us. We have a long list.
"Basically, they don't want to come or the price or whatever, so it could not happen. He made his decision, a good one, and good luck. All the teams in the Premier League would have signed Declan Rice.
"He's an international captain for the national team of England and a young player playing a lot of games regularly. That's why Arsenal pushed the way they pushed."
Rice has also insisted ahead of Sunday's title showdown that his team must head to Manchester with the desire to secure all three points against the reigning champions.
"We have got to go to the Etihad, which is going to be really tough, but if you want to get past that barrier of Arsenal being labelled stuff, you have to go there and win," he told reporters.
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Arsenal looking for statement win over Man City
"We have to show that steeliness and character to prove we can be one of the best teams.
"There's no doubt that City are the best team in the world at the minute, but we have full confidence and belief as a group, and the manager, that we can get a result."
Rice has managed six goals and six assists in 28 Premier League matches this season, with Mikel Arteta's side currently sitting at the top of the table.
Arsenal have picked up 64 points from their 28 league matches this season courtesy of a record of 20 wins, for draws and four defeats, and they are ahead of second-place Liverpool on goal difference.
Man City, meanwhile, are third in the division, one point behind the Gunners ahead of the crucial meeting between the two teams on Sunday afternoon.
Matt Law
