Pep Guardiola has definitively ruled out a move to Manchester United once his contract with Manchester City expires, despite having previously entertained the idea of coaching at Old Trafford.
Since joining Manchester City from Bayern Munich eight years ago, Guardiola has enjoyed immense success, securing six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and a coveted Champions League trophy. However, his current contract is set to end in 2024, and many expect him to leave the Etihad after the 2024/25 season.
Interestingly, two years before his tenure at City began, Guardiola had admitted he could see himself managing Manchester United. According to his close friend and journalist Marti Perarnau in the book “Pep Confidential,” Guardiola expressed admiration for Old Trafford. Perarnau wrote, “Pep liked the atmosphere. He could see himself coaching there one day.”
Perarnau also recounted an episode in May 2011, when Guardiola visited Old Trafford to watch a match against Schalke. He turned to his personal assistant, Manuel Estiarte, and said, “I like this atmosphere. I could see myself coaching here one day.”
Adding to this narrative, Sir Alex Ferguson, in his book “Leading,” described a meeting with Guardiola in 2012. Ferguson admired Guardiola’s achievements with Barcelona and suggested he call him before accepting another job offer. Despite this, Guardiola joined Bayern Munich in July 2013 without reaching out to Ferguson.
However, by 2020, Guardiola had firmly dismissed the notion of ever managing Manchester United, comparing it to the impossibility of managing Real Madrid after Barcelona. He stated, “After training City, I won’t train United. It is like I would never train Real Madrid. Definitely not. I’ll be in the Maldives if I don’t have any offers. Maybe not the Maldives because it doesn’t have any golf courses.”
Key Points:
- Current Success: Guardiola has achieved significant success with Manchester City, winning numerous domestic and international titles.
- Previous Interest: Before joining City, Guardiola had expressed interest in managing Manchester United, admiring the club and its atmosphere.
- Alex Ferguson’s Request: Ferguson had once asked Guardiola to contact him before taking another job, highlighting the mutual respect between them.
- Firm Rejection: By 2020, Guardiola categorically ruled out ever managing United, equating it to managing Real Madrid after his Barcelona stint.
Guardiola’s commitment to Manchester City and his subsequent rejection of Manchester United underscores his loyalty to his current club and his respect for the intense rivalries that define football.
