Champions League winning manager prefers United job over other top clubs

Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola

Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola has over six months left on his contract at the Allianz Arena and there is uncertainty surrounding his future at the club. The former La Liga coach has been linked with hosts of clubs across Europe, while the Bundesliga outfit are looking to extend his stay in Germany.

Bayern wanted him to make the former Barcelona coach the highest-paid manager in the world. The opportunity was reportedly turned down by him and the Mirror reports Guardiola may have already given a word to Manchester City.

Barcelona’s arch rivals Real Madrid are also believed to be interested in bringing him back to La Liga. Sport had suggested the Spanish capital club are considering a move in signing Guardiola as a replacement for Rafale Benitez, whose future is uncertain at Real, despite their president Florentino Pérez publicly backing him.

However, The Telegrpagh claims Guardiola’s employers believe he has set his sights on managing Manchester United after leaving Bayern. The Red Devils have Louis van Gaal as their manager, whose contract will expire at the end of the next season.

It is not sure if United will make any decision on appointing Guardiola at least until the end of the season. Bayern chief Karl Heinz Rummenigge earlier revealed their manager’s future will be resolved by the new year and the Old Trafford club are unlikely to take a decision in just over a month in allowing Van Gaal leave.

Should the Dutchman be shown the exit door, United are set to pay-off £7m to Van Gaal, something the Premier League giants are not willing to do. Guardiola has an opportunity to manage United from the summer of 2017, if the former Netherlands coach decides to leave after the end of his contract.

Van Gaal has managed Barcelona and Bayern Munich earlier in his career, along with the list of other clubs. Should Guardiola be his successor, he would have replicated the Dutch manager’s footsteps before moving to Old Trafford.

Guardiola helped Barcelona win the Champions League twice and on both occasions, his side defeated United in the final. His CV looks impressive and considering the availability of world class managers, he could be the right fit to replace Van Gaal.

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