Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes he would have never fit in at Real Madrid amid revelations the European champions approached him to become their manager last year.
Real president Florentino Perez got in contact withthe former Barcelona manager at the back end of last year -when he was still manager at Bayern Munich -as he looked to replace Rafael Benitez as the club's manager. The information came about earlier this week, after Guardiola'sfriend and biographer Marti Perarnau spoke toCadena Ser.
Guardiola dismisses claim that Real Madrid wanted him as coach: "They wouldn't be interested in a coach like me...� https://t.co/sHsYNYoumm pic.twitter.com/4KqrvMd8N9
However, Guardiola was adamant at the time that he would not be moving to Madrid as he was an avid follower of their Catalan rivals, given heplayed for and managed them in the past. Guardiola went on to leave Bayern Munich at the end of last season in favour of a move to Manchester.
Speaking on the Madrid approachat the time, Perarnau said: "Real Madrid called Pep Guardiola to try and tempt him last November, before they sacked Benitez.
"Madrid contacted [Josep Maria] Orobitg, Guardiola's agent, in order to try and contract him. But from the start it was out of the question. I was there."
Guardiola though has now had his say on the issue during a press conference ahead of City's game with West Bromwich Albion this weekend, and his reasoning validated the comments made byPerarnau.
According toSky Sports, he said:"I am a follower of FC Barcelona.I don't think Real Madrid need a manager like me and I wouldn't fit there either."
Real went on to hire Zinedine Zidane after missing out on Guardiola, and it hasn't turned out too badly so far given their Champions League win last season. Real also sit top of La Liga going into this weekend's round of fixtures.
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