AUF WIEDERSEHEN PEP
Guardiola: I wanted to play for my old Barca boss Bobby Robson at Newcastle..it was my dream to play in England but he sent me a lovely letter.. turning me DOWN!
PEP GUARDIOLA has revealed he wanted to play for Newcastle – but was politely turned down by his former Barcelona boss Bobby Robson.
The Manchester City coach never played for an English club and his first experience of the Premier League was after moving to the Etihad in 2016.
But, in a new film on Robson, the Catalan said he had wanted to swap the Nou Camp for St James’ Park when the former England boss returned home in 1999, after his sacking in Spain.
Guardiola said: “I am going to explain something secret. After the purge in Barcelona, he went to Newcastle and I sent him a letter to offer me the chance to go to him and play at Newcastle.
“One of my dreams would have been to have played in England. He answered me and said it was not possible because he had a lot of quality and he was right, but, even in that tough moment, he was always so kind.
“He wrote a simple letter and it was like it meant so much more. Bobby is one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life.”
In Robson’s first match in charge in September 1999, he had a midfield of Kieron Dyer, Gary Speed, Nolberto Solano and Robert Lee, with Temuri Ketsbaia also in the squad.
Guardiola, who transferred to Serie A club Brescia in 2001, said he learned valuable lessons working under Robson during a turbulent season in 1996/97.
“It is not easy to manage Barcelona, especially in that period,” he said.
“I learned, when I saw him, how lonely the manager feels.
“And, in the bad moments, how always he had a typical smile.
“In my case, in that situation, it would have been impossible to react how he did. I know, for him, it was a tough period. I learned a lot because, in that period, I thought, ‘I want to become a manager’.
“And how he handled that situation was incredible. I admired him a lot. It doesn’t matter what the media says or everyone pushing – always try to be calm.”
Robson’s former assistant at Barca, Jose Mourinho, also reopened his running feud with Cristiano Ronaldo by stating: “Ronaldo Nazario, the best Ronaldo. Ever.”
The Manchester United boss, who worked with the Brazil star for a season at the Nou Camp, added: “I never saw the same, I never saw the same.”
Bobby Robson: More Than A Manager coming to select theatres June 1. Now available to pre-order, Digital Download June 1 & Blu-Ray/DVD June 4