Pep Guardiola is a master strategist in hiring top talent. After sealing the deal for players like Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, the club reaped immense rewards, winning the treble in 2023. And the Spanish coach’s dominance in the market just became more obvious. However, it is not just his recent signings that reveal his shrewdness. City’s former player revealed Guardiola’s primary strategy from the last decade in bringing Kevin De Bruyne.

According to Manchester City’s former midfielder, Fernandinho, Guardiola refused his signing at Bayern Munich, which later led to him joining the Premier League winners. According to reports, the Brazilian player stated, “He [Pep Guardiola] was at Bayern and [Kevin] De Bruyne was at Wolfsburg. Bayern’s scouting department says ‘We’re looking at this boy, what do you think about bringing him here?’ And Pep, ‘No, no, no, I don’t want him, I don’t think he’ll fit into our team.” revealing Pep’s refusal.

Earlier in 2017, Pep cited that he tried signing the Belgian international while he was with the Bavarians but could not due to budget issues. But now, as revealed by Fernandinho, it also seems like City’s way of playing suits De Bruyne better than Bayern’s. Pep’s tactics at Bayern revolved around ‘juego de posicion,’ where players are more versatile in their positions.

Subsequently, after missing Bayern, De Bruyne moved to Manchester City from Wolfsburg on a massive 6-year deal in 2015 for $83 million. The Belgian star caught the eyes of the two-time treble-winning coach when he scored a brace in their encounter in Germany in early 2015.

In the game, Wolfsburg thrashed Bayer 4-1, leaving Pep flattered with the 32-year-old. He later went on to call Kevin De Bruyne one of the best players he had seen in his life. Meanwhile, the Spaniard continued at the German club till he led them to their third consecutive league title before moving out in June 2016. Nevertheless, both formed an iconic partnership in Manchester, creating history.

Will Kevin De Buyne continue his magic at the Etihad?

Kevin De Bruyne has been a phenomenon under Pep Guardiola, to say the least. The player is the club’s highest assister with 106 and played one of the most crucial roles in their treble win last year. De Bruyne helped Haaland in 13 goals, helping him finish with 52 goals. 

Rejecting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, Kevin De Bruyne Opens Possibility of Retiring in the MLS

On the other hand, after eight years, the player is being eyed by Saudi clubs, which he refused last summer. Nevertheless, after offering him $75.7 million, the pursuit of the iconic midfielder is back. But will he reject them once again, or will he try out a different challenge? Only time will reveal.

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