Rice chose to join Arsenal over City when leaving West Ham last summer.
Ahead of facing the Gunners on Sunday, Guardiola said: "There are a lot of players we wanted to sign but they didn't decide to join us.
"Rice is not the first one we wanted to get, but it didn't happen. We have a long list. He made this decision and I wish him nothing but good luck.
"Any Premier League team would love to sign Declan Rice. He is the England captain and a young player who has played a lot of matches."