Pep Guardiola: I could join Manchester United - not City
28.12.2015 23:00
The news will stun City's billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour, who has been on a mission to appoint Guardiola ever since he left Barcelona in 2013.
Guardiola has sparked a mad scramble for his signature after announcing he will leave Bayern Munich at the end of this season.
Chelsea are also keen on luring the Spaniard to Stamford Bridge, but City were believed to be in pole position to appoint him as Manuel Pellegrini's successor.
Mansour and chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak believe Guardiola is the man to make City the Premier League's dominant force and also turn them into genuine Champions League contenders.
But now it has emerged that Guardiola would consider taking charge of United if the job was available next summer.
Guardiola is close friends with United ambassador and former boss Sir Alex Ferguson and is attracted to the history and prestige associated with the club.
A source said: "Pep always found the club fascinating. He likes clubs with huge tradition and United certainly have this.
"He won't be short of options when it comes to deciding his next move and Manchester City are an ambitious club. But United could still prove to be the more attractive proposition."
News of Guardiola's interest in them will put United on red alert as club bosses wrestle with the dilemma of what to do with failing boss Louis van Gaal.
The Dutchman is battling to save his job following a woeful run of six games without a win that has seen United tumble down the Premier League table and crash out of the Champions League.
Owners the Glazers are reviewing his position on a match-to-match basis and have the option of appointing Jose Mourinho now he is available.
But they could now decide to wait for Guardiola and stick with Van Gaal for the rest of the season in the hope he can somehow improve the team's fortunes and achieve the minimum requirement of securing Champions League qualification.
(dailystar.co.uk)
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