Guardiola a City boy, says Fifa agent

A FIFA agent has come out and said that agreements are already in place for Pep Guardiola to replace Roberto Mancini as manager of Manchester City.

The statement came from Francois Gallardo, telling a Spanish radio station that City have already had a preliminary contract accepted by Guardiola to succeed Mancini.

“Guardiola has a pre-deal to be the next manager of Manchester City,” he claimed, “No matter if Milan or whoever make offers to him.”

In spite of the fact Gallardo offered nothing to support his claims, it would certainly appear to be a good match for Guardiola, who is currently enjoying a sabbatical in New York with his family. Personnel wise, City already have two former Barcelona executives, Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano, as part of the team at the Etihad Stadium.

Having only Barcelona on his management CV, Guardiola is used to operating under a big budget and with an abundance of talent. At City, he would have much of the same and plenty of room to grow. It has to be said, it’s more likely Guardiola would thrive under City’s environment as opposed to Chelsea or Arsenal’s – two clubs he has heavily been linked with.

Tevez, Aguero and Silva are a similar breed of player which Guardiola has got the best out of and built a team around at Barcelona. Mancini opts more for the rotational method – an approach which suggests he still may not know what his best team is.

Guardiola was always very decisive with his team selection at Barcelona and perhaps that’s the attitude which makes the difference in Europe – an area which Mancini has struggled.

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