HOUSTON - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says left back Aleksandar Kolarov is close to joining Roma.
Guardiola says Kolarov told him he wants to leave and return to the Italian capital, where he played for Lazio from 2007-10.
Speaking after City's 2-0 loss to Manchester United in a preseason friendly in Houston on Thursday, Guardiola said "I don't like to work with people who don't want to stay."
Kolarov's imminent exit increases City's need for reinforcements at full back. The English team released Bacary Sagna, Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy in the off-season and bought Kyle Walker, who is City's only other senior full back apart from Kolarov.
Meanwhile, Mesut Ozil is close to reaching an agreement on a new Arsenal deal.
Ozil is in the final year of his contract but the club have been encouraged by recent negotiations and comments from the 28-year-old about staying in London.
Arsenal have offered £280,000 a week. The German midfielder has been holding out for £350,000 a week, but has been unable to generate genuine interest elsewhere, unlike Alexis Sanchez.