Pep Guardiola recommends Premier League rival for Barcelona job following secret talks

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Published on 2024-03-02 12:16:36

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has endorsed Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi for the vacant Barcelona job.

Guardiola, who previously managed Barcelona from 2008 to 2012, has recommended De Zerbi to take over at the Catalan club following Xavi’s announcement of his resignation at the end of the current season.

Guardiola, a former player and highly successful manager at Barcelona, has a strong connection to the club and remains influential there.

Guardiola left Barcelona for Bayern Munich before eventually joining Manchester City in 2016. Since then, he has won 16 trophies with the Sky Blues, including his first Champions League title last season.

Despite his success at City, Guardiola’s future remains uncertain as he is only contracted until 2025. Speculation linking him to the Barcelona job has been dismissed, but Guardiola’s ties to the club continue to be strong.

In a recent report by Mundo Deportivo, it is revealed that Guardiola recommended De Zerbi to Barcelona president Joan Laporta during private discussions.

De Zerbi, who is also a candidate for the Liverpool and Bayern Munich jobs, took over as Brighton manager in 2022 after a successful spell with the club. Under De Zerbi’s guidance, Brighton finished 6th in the Premier League last season and secured a spot in the Europa League.

Currently, De Zerbi’s Brighton side is in 7th place in the Premier League and is set to face Roma in the Europa League last-16.

The Italian manager’s impressive track record and potential have caught the attention of top clubs, including Barcelona.

With Guardiola’s endorsement, De Zerbi could be on the verge of a major managerial opportunity at one of Europe’s elite clubs.

Read Original article on City Xtra