Why Pep Guardiola is the real ‘Special One’

The ‘Special One’ perhaps when mentioned in the football world, has become a name synonymous with Jose Mourinho, but if history has proven anything, it is that such title can only be for one man; Pep Guardiola.

The illustrious career of football managerial maestro Pep Guardiola has been marked not only by a staggering 34 honors across Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City but also by a distinct transfer strategy that sets him apart from his peers in the football world.

Guardiola, widely regarded as one of the greatest managers in football history, has been a trailblazer in revolutionizing the sport through his distinctive style and unconventional approach to player transfers.

Despite amassing an impressive array of achievements, a lesser-known facet of Guardiola’s managerial philosophy revolves around his transfer dealings.

While many managers often bring their favored players to new clubs, creating a familiar environment, Guardiola stands out for never signing a player more than once throughout his managerial career.

Unlike counterparts such as Harry Redknapp, Jose Mourinho, and Carlo Ancelotti, who recurrently brought in familiar faces across different managerial stints, Pep Guardiola has maintained a steadfast rule of signing fresh talent, shunning the repetition of player signings across various clubs.

The Catalan manager, who boasts a roster of 94 signings as per Transfer Markt, has exhibited a penchant for adaptability and the constant refreshment of his squads.

In a striking revelation from the book “God Save Pep” authored by journalist Marti Perarnau, offering an intimate glimpse into Guardiola’s world, a missed opportunity emerged involving the manager and his former star player Lionel Messi.

Reportedly, Guardiola declined the chance to reunite with Messi during a meeting at the player’s house in Barcelona. During their conversation, Guardiola purportedly shared insights into his rigorous training methods at Manchester City, cautioning Messi about the intensity of training sessions and lengthy tactical discussions, expressing concerns that Messi might find it tedious.

The conversation reportedly took a surprising turn when Guardiola suggested a potential rift, remarking, “Leo, we have grown older. Maybe we can’t stand each other anymore.”

Despite Messi’s willingness to commit and train hard, the dialogue concluded with Guardiola seemingly signaling a strained relationship, prompting Messi, who had a year remaining on his Barcelona contract, to opt for a move to Paris Saint-Germain instead of joining Guardiola at Manchester City.

This revelation sheds light on Guardiola’s unorthodox transfer policy and unveils a pivotal moment when a potential reunion between the manager and his former star player took an unexpected turn, ultimately influencing Messi’s decision to pursue a new chapter with PSG.