Pep Guardiola tried to plunder former Club Barcelona in 2016 during his first summer as Boss in Manchester City, but his progress was unable to wear fruit
Viewant of Barcelona, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, has once unveiled Pep Guardiola to Catalonia to try to sign the international shot stopper of Germany. After his appointment at the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2016, the 54-year-old Spanish tactician brutally decided to blew Joe Hart in one of his first acts as Boss in Manchester City. Guardiola wanted a keeper who was able to play with his feet from behind and he considered his ideal transfer target. Barca head coach Luis Enrique, however, blocked the deal and instead dived instead to sign Ter Stegen's teammate Claudio Bravo for a reported fee of £ 17 million.
Ter Stegen has now thrown light on the test and the German newspaper Bild: “It was actually the case that we considered changing clubs. It was a moment when I was not satisfied with the situation at Barca, because although we had won many titles, I had not played in the competition. I wanted to be the clear number one.
“We even had a meeting in Barcelona. Pep flew here and then we met in a friend's apartment. He explained his ideas to me and that he would be in Manchester City from the summer and would like to have me. Pep tried really hard.
“Then I thought about it and told myself that this could be the solution to my problem and that the plan they have in the city sounds very interesting. Looking at recent years, it worked perfectly. At a certain point I went to Luis Enrique and told him that I wanted his permission. He also said he would tell the club that they should not let me go under all circumstances.
“I replied that on the one hand I really appreciated it, but on the other hand I wanted to be number one. When he then said we had to see how the preseason is going, I almost lost my patience, but I managed to control myself.
“I just said: listening, that's my wish now, and I go to the board and just wanted to let you know. The board also said that they would not release me under any circumstances. Three weeks later Pep brought my teammate Claudio Bravo to Man City. It was strange in the beginning, but in the end I am very happy.”
Ter Stegen has since won no fewer than 16 trophies in Camp Nou, but his season was demolished in September when he sustained a serious knee injury. Wojciech Szczesny has since retired to offer Barca coverage, as a free agent.
Speaking in October 2016 prior to a Champions League collision with Barcelona, Guardiola admitted that he had been interested in signing Ter Stegen, although he denied consulting Lionel Messi about a move to the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola said during a press conference: “If you're talking about this summer, I never called Messi. I never called Neymar, Luis Suarez, (Sergio) Busquets, (Andres) Iniesta, I didn't call anyone.
“As for Ter Stegen, I knew he wanted to play all the time. We were contacting. He was not happy with his situation. We needed a keeper like Claudio or Ter Stegen. Claudio came and decided to stay all. If I ever mentioned a player who played in another club, it would be in a special situation not to play, but it would have my right to play -“