Josep Guardiola’s agent has revealed that Manchester United
missed out on the Barcelona midfielder in 2001.
The highly rated midfielder was inches away from moving to Old
Trafford but he finally changed his mind, according to his
representative.
Josep Maria Orobitg has also revealed that Tottenham and Arsenal
enquired about the Spaniard once he announced his intention to
leave Camp Nou.
“Ten months before his contract was due to expire, he told
me that he would not extend his stay in Barcelona,” Orobitg told
sport.es.
The agent has claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson’s son got in touch
with him in October 2000 to tell him about The Red Devils’ interest
in the Spaniard.
“Pep used to like United for their greatness and organisation
but he insisted that he would only listen [to offers] and would not
seal anything before making [chairman] Joan Gaspart aware of it
first.”
Orobitg has confessed that his client was due to have a secret
meeting with United in Seville, but he cancelled it.
“Pep was not sure,” he added.
Guardiola announced during a press conference that he would
leave Barca once his contract had expired in June 2001, and his
agent has claimed that 30 minutes after this declaration, Spurs and
The Gunners called him.
“The first phone call was from Inter’s [Massimo] Moratti, then
Milan called, Tottenham and Arsenal,” Orobitg said.
Guardiola finally joined Brescia, but was suspended for
doping.