Speaking to SER Catalunya, Martí Perarnau said the Galacticos tried to negotiate with the manager right after they sacked Rafa Benítez in January.
“Real Madrid wanted to sign Guardiola”, said Perarnau (via AS). “Madrid contacted Orobitg, Guardiola’s agent, to try his signing. But since the beginning, it was automatically ruled out. I was there”.
Perarnau has written two books about Guardiola, ‘Herr Pep’ and ‘La Metamorfosis’, and spent much time close to the manager as part of the writing proccess.
Pep Guardiola was announced by Manchester City on 1st of February, meaning that by the time of Real Madrid’s approach, he was probably already negotiating (or even had a deal) with the English club.
Given the rivalry between Barcelona and Madrid, we can never be sure if one side is winding up another or not. However, as Perarnau is a writer who seemed very close to the situation, this is a case more believable than if it was published by some regular Catalan newspaper.
