Pep Guardiola has lifted the lid on his conversation with Sandro Tonali at the end of Newcastle United's semi-final defeat at Manchester City.

Tonali has experienced a roller-coaster few days on Tyneside after being linked with Arsenal following leaks from a third party. Both the player's agent Giuseppe Riso and Arsenal sources have denied any approaches and Newcastle also played down there had been contact.

Guardiola took time to seek out the Newcastle midfielder at the end of a game which saw the Magpies relinquish their hold on the Carabao Cup after a 3-1 loss at the Etihad Stadium resulted in a 5-1 aggregate defeat.

Asked what was said to the Italy international at the full-time, Guardiola said in his Press conference: "What did I say (to Sandro Tonali?) My Italian is perfect, so that's why I can communicate with him. And we have an incredible friend in common from Brescia, Edoardo Piovani.

"And every time we are connected, I know his father some time ago, and all the time we met, we talked about his experience in Milan, the supporters, and how...