Guardiola’s clear stance on Ratcliffe immigration comments | Football | Sport

Despite issuing an apology the following day for any offence caused by his choice of words, it has done little to alter the public’s perception of what the billionaire meant. When asked about the comments, Guardiola referenced the apology but maintained a stance contrary to Ratcliffe’s views.

Manchester City‘s manager said of the Manchester United co-owner: “I have a huge appreciation for Sir Jim. I was fortunate to meet him. He made a statement to apologise. I’m not commenting on what Sir Jim Ratcliffe said because, after that, he said exactly what he wanted to say.

“But all around the world, the problem that we have in all the countries is we treat immigrants or people who come from other countries as the problem for problems that our countries have, and it is a big, big, big, big, big problem.

“The fact that I am a Catalan and you are British – what influence did we have on where we were born? It was mum and dad.

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“Everybody wants to have a better life and a perspective to have a better future for themselves, their families and their friends, and sometimes opportunities come in the place where you are born and the place that maybe you go.”

“Before, it was so difficult to travel, but today, in one hour, you can be everywhere. Today, the colour of the skin or where you were born doesn’t make a difference. We have a lot of work to do about that.

“It doesn’t make me feel that because I am Catalan, I am better than you. My education when I was born and travelled in Mexico and Qatar, or lived in Italy or England or Germany, that is just the benefit of my personality. I met incredibly nice people while travelling, and that is what it is about, but it doesn’t make me feel better just for the fact that I was born in one place or the other.

“Most people are running away from their countries because of problems in their countries, not because they want to leave. As much as we embrace other cultures – truly, truly embrace it – that will be a better society.”