Pep Guardiola set to take over at Manchester City and lure world superstar to the Etihad

Pep Guardiola set to take over at Manchester City and lure world superstar to the Etihad.

 

Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi spent four years together at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012

 

Guardiola yesterday confirmed he will be managing in the Premier League next season with City odds-on to be his destination.

Chelsea and Manchester United are also interested in the 44-year-old Spaniard but City are quietly confident they have their man.

And they are ready to pull out all the stops to bring in Barcelona superstar Messi in a world-record transfer in an attempt to take the club to the next level with the best manager and best player in the world working in tandem again as they did so successfully at the Nou Camp.

Guardiola has won 19 trophies in just seven years as a manager, first with Barcelona then with Bayern Munich.

But he says his ultimate ambition is to work in England and that is why he will leave this summer after three years at the Allianz Arena - although he insists he has not signed a deal yet.

 

He said: "The reason I'm not staying at Bayern is very simple: I want to coach in England in the Premier League. That's the only reason I'm not extending my contract.

"I have different offers but I haven't decided yet. If I had signed a contract with a club then the club would communicate that. I have nothing signed yet, so I can't say anything about that.

"I'm very grateful to Bayern for the huge opportunity they gave me. It was a dream, it is a dream. If I were 60 or 65 I would've stayed, but I think I am too young. I'm 44-years-old and I need a new challenge. That's it, nothing more.

"Bayern gave me an exceptional squad. It would be possible to stay here and win more but I think it's the right time for this new challenge.

"It has been only my second experience as coach. I need new challenges, new experiences. Three years is enough (at Bayern). New players, new stadium, new restaurants, that's what I want. That's the reason, the only reason that I made that choice."

 

The bookmakers have installed Guardiola as 7-2 ON to be in charge at City at the start of next season. Signficantly, he is best friends with City's sporting director Txiki Begiristain from their days playing together in Barcelona's dream team of the early 1990s.

Current boss Manuel Pellegrini appears resigned to being replaced by Guardiola, even if City land the Premier League title for the second time in three years.

"My way of thinking is that if I have the option to renew here for five years more or to win the title and be sacked, I'd prefer to win the title," he said ahead of tonight's Capital One Cup semi-final first leg at Everton.

"I don't think it is harder to sack a manager if he wins the title. If you are the owner of a club, you must have the option to replace the manager if they win the title or not. If the owners are not happy with your work, they have the right to change."