Publications
Partners
Cape Town - New Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola reveals he almost joined the club as a player, but the move was blocked by Stuart Pierce, who was manager at the time.
Towards the end of his playing career, Guardiola wanted to add the Premier League to the list of top-flight divisions he had played in and approached Manchester City when he left Qatari club Al Ahli in 2005.
But Pearce blocked the move and the Spaniard ended up with Mexican club Dorados, where he made just 10 appearances before hanging up his boots.
"I have to say something - Stuart Pearce was right. Definitely," he told the club's website.
"I came here at 33-34 years old and in that time as a football player I was definitely a disaster. It was so intelligent not to pick me up.
"My dream in that time was to play in the Premier League. He offered me one half year - not a complete season. I had to wonder about family, I can not live without them and in the end we didn't decide [to sign].
"When you analyse in that moment my physical condition I think it was the right decision. Don't pick Pep up."
