Givairo Read breaks long-held silence on Manchester City transfer talk after Robin van Persie blessing

• Read says Man City & Bayern links are “a compliment” but he is not concerning himself with them

• Feyenoord right-back says he does not know “what the future holds” at this stage

• City are frontrunners to sign Read; Feyenoord targeting a club-record sale in excess of €32M

Givairo Read has responded to links with Manchester City and Bayern Munich, describing the interest as a compliment while insisting his focus remains elsewhere for now.

The Feyenoord right-back has been one of the most talked-about young defenders in European football this summer, with City reported to be in pole position to sign the 20-year-old as director of football Hugo Viana looks to address the right-back position ahead of Enzo Maresca‘s first season in charge.

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Feyenoord head coach Robin van Persie has publicly backed Read to make the move to an elite club, describing the defender as ready to take the next step to progress his career.

Robin van Persie backs Feyenoord’s Givairo Read for Manchester City summer transfer

Read is contracted to Feyenoord until 2029 and the Dutch club are targeting a club-record sale in excess of €32 million, though City’s interest is understood to be genuine and longstanding with scouts having watched him on multiple occasions since November last year.

Read: That would be a compliment – but I don’t concern myself with it much

Speaking to VoetbalPrimeur, Read has addressed the speculation surrounding his future. “I read them, that would be a compliment, but to be honest, I don’t concern myself with that much right now,” the defender said, as quoted by Sport Witness.

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“That’s something for my agent. At this moment, I don’t know what the future holds. If an opportunity arises, I’ll discuss it with my family and agent, people closest to me who know me best.”

The response is consistent with the level-headed persona that Van Persie alluded to when endorsing a potential move, having described Read as “still exactly the same boy” as he was three years ago despite his growing reputation – crediting the defender’s mental stability as one of his most valuable qualities.

What is the wider context for City’s interest in Read?

City’s need for a specialist right-back has been an ongoing theme throughout the summer, with Matheus Nunes having impressed when deputising in the role last season but a dedicated option remaining a stated priority for Viana ahead of the new campaign.

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The pursuit of Pedro Porro has effectively ended this week as the Tottenham defender edges closer to signing a new deal until 2030, having been viewed as a potential target before Spurs moved to secure his long-term future.

Manchester City face Bayern Munich competition for Feyenoord’s Givairo Read

Read’s profile – a dynamic, technically accomplished right-back with the ability to contribute heavily in attack – aligns closely with what Maresca is understood to demand from the position, and City’s status as frontrunners gives them a strong foundation from which to press their case once the summer window progresses further.