Pep Guardiola has reportedly turned down the opportunity to manage the Brazil national team due to having “unfinished business” at the Etihad Stadium with Manchester City.
The Catalan, who turned 52 on Wednesday, signed a new two-year deal with Manchester City in November, keeping him at the club until at least 2025.
Guardiola joined the Sky Blues from Bayern Munich in 2016 and has since managed City to 11 pieces of silverware including four Premier League titles.
The former Barcelona boss penned another contract extension with the club during the mid-season pause due to the World Cup, ending speculation surrounding his future beyond the current campaign.
Guardiola has won the Premier League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup with Manchester City however is still yet to win the prestigious UEFA Champions League.
City have reached the semi-finals in each of the past two seasons and suffered an agonising defeat to Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League Final.
The quest to win the major European trophy is likely one of the key reasons for Guardiola choosing to remain in East Manchester, with Simon Mullock declaring that the City manager still believes that he has “unfinished business” at the club.
As a result, Guardiola reportedly turned down the opportunity to become head coach of the Brazil national team, after the South American side crashed out of the FIFA World Cup.
Brazil are currently searching for a new manager following the departure of Tite, who left after eight years following the disappointment in Qatar.
The Mirror report that Brazilian legend Ronaldo made a “tentative” enquiry regarding the availability of Guardiola to his brother and agent Pere.
Manchester City eyeing Grealish upgrade in Kvaratskhelia
Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing Napoli sensation Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, and the winger could be a significant upgrade on Jack Grealish at the Etihad Stadium.
According to the Daily Mail, Pep Guardiola‘s side are keeping tabs on the Georgia international after his incredible start to life at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Kvaratskheila only joined the Serie A giants from Georgian minnows Dinamo Batumi last summer but he looks set to inspire Luciano Spalletti’s side to the Scudetto this season, having starred in their 5-1 thrashing of Juventus last weekend to stretch their lead at the top of the table to nine points.
The 21-year-old boasts seven goals and seven assists in just 15 Serie A appearances so far this term, with WhoScored awarding him a phenomenal 7.55 average rating for his performances.
By comparison, Grealish has managed just two goals and three assists in 12 Premier League matches in the current campaign, averaging a more sedate 7.08 rating from WhoScored.
However, it is their respective performances in the Champions League which perhaps best emphasises the difference in output and quality. Kvaratskheila has two goals and three assists in five appearances, with a 7.59 average rating from WhoScored, compared to Grealish’s zero goal contributions in six appearances and 6.74 average rating.
The Georgia international also leads the former Aston Villa man when it comes to shots (2.9 vs 1.3), key passes (1.7 vs 1.6) and dribbles per game (1.7 vs 1.3), which suggests that he could be a much better option for Guardiola on the left hand side.
Unsurprisingly, the youngster won’t come cheaply, with his agent suggesting that the 21-year-old could easily fetch €100m (£86m) in the current market. However, given Napoli’s form in Serie A and the Champions League so far this term, he may not be particularly interested in leaving the Azzurri.
Napoli legend Marek Hamsik was full of praise for Kvaratskheila’s impact at the club and the way he has filled the void left by the departures of the club’s top two all-time goalscorers Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne in 2022.
The Slovakian said: “Kvara has incredible dribbling ease and he is among the best in the world. It’s incredible to see this Napoli team without the three most important players.”
Therefore, it is easy to see why City would be interested in signing the Georgian sensation this year, as he could make the Premier League champions a much more devastating attacking team if he replaces the inconsistent Grealish in Guardiola’s side.
Source: Cityxtra.co.uk; footballfancast.com
