Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has ruled out the possibility of signing a new goalkeeper to replace the injured Claudio Bravo.
Bravo is expected to face an extended spell on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon in training earlier this week, prompting City to recall 19-year-old shot-stopper Aro Muric from his loan spell at NAC Breda.
The Premier League champions had been linked with a move for former Liverpool and Crystal Palace keeper Diego Cavalieri, who is currently a free agent and so available outside the transfer window, but Guardiola insists that Muric's return was the only option he considered.
"From the beginning it was Aro, Aro - that was the only option. The transfer window is closed so we cannot buy. With players who have retired - maybe - but when we knew it was possible for Aro to come back the decision was quick," Guardiola told reporters at his pre-match press conference.
"We know him. Last season he trained with us all season and he knows the way we work. We loaned him because the second team is not a real competition. We wanted to see him play every weekend."
When asked how long Bravo might be sidelined for, Guardiola added: "I don't know - but the surgery was good and we'll see."
Muric has never made a first-team appearance for City, but could be on the bench for Saturday's Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
