Pep Guardiola blocked Bayern Munich transfer to send Manchester City legend to the Etihad Stadium

Redaction Willow Austin with Freddie Pye
Published on 2024-03-07 07:45:00

Manchester City made a significant signing in 2015 when they secured Kevin De Bruyne from VfL Wolfsburg, with Pep Guardiola playing a key role in the process during his time at Bayern Munich.

De Bruyne has since become a central figure in Manchester City’s squad, establishing himself as one of the greatest midfielders in English football history despite facing difficulties early in his career at Chelsea.

Despite his struggles at Stamford Bridge, City was convinced of De Bruyne’s talents and signed him to a six-year contract for a club-record fee of £55 million.

This made him the second most expensive transfer in British football history at the time, but De Bruyne has proven his worth through his performances on the field.

Former City captain Fernandinho shed light on the recruitment process in a recent podcast, revealing Guardiola’s initial rejection of De Bruyne while at Bayern Munich. Guardiola ultimately sent De Bruyne to Manchester City, where he has thrived under the manager’s guidance.

Interestingly, it was not just De Bruyne that Guardiola saved for Manchester City during his time at Bayern. Reports surfaced that Guardiola also turned down the opportunity to sign Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling while at Bayern, only for City to later acquire these players after Guardiola’s arrival at the club.

This revelation sheds light on Guardiola’s strategic planning and his vision for building a strong team at Manchester City. The decision to pass on talented players at Bayern in favor of bringing them to City showcases Guardiola’s long-term thinking and his ability to identify players who would thrive under his management.

As City continues to enjoy success under Guardiola’s guidance, it is clear that the manager’s calculated decisions have played a significant role in shaping the team’s success. Guardiola’s foresight in recruiting players like De Bruyne, Gundogan, and Sterling has proven to be instrumental in Manchester City’s achievements on the pitch.